Klarinet Archive - Posting 000395.txt from 1996/04

From: Michael D Moors - Alpena <mdmoors@-----.US>
Subj: Oiling your clarinet
Date: Sun, 14 Apr 1996 19:21:42 -0400

Hi All,

My understanding of why to oil is to keep water out of the wood. If
water gets into the grain there is no way to keep it from cracking. The
wood swells and shrinks unevenly. It is too thick to expand evenly with
the water on the inside. Pressure of the wet inside wood makes the wood
crack open.

My repairman told me that every instrument is submerged in oil for some
amount of time at the factory. I have personally oiled my instrument
about once a month. I oil the outside a few times a year, taking care to
keep bore oil away from pads. One thing I have noticed (in the directions
inside new instrument cases) is that the factories normally want the
instrument oiled more while it is new. Frequency of oiling decreases
after the first few months.

It is hard to find an agreement on how often to oil. My attitude is to
be safe rather then sorry. It isn't too big of a headache to oil it once
a month. I also try to pick a day that I haven't played to instrument
(with teaching that isn't hard) so there is no water in the instrument.

Even though an instrument is oiled they still crack. I think temp.
extremes are a big reason why. I have a DEG insulated case cover. Some
day when I have an extra $85.00 I would like to get a Cavallaro case
cover. Cavallaro's have have lambs wool lining. The case covers help
avoid the extreme hot and cold playing situations.

Have a good week!!!

Mike Moors

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Michael D. Moors
mdmoors@-----.us