Klarinet Archive - Posting 000098.txt from 1999/02

From: "Steven J Goldman, MD" <gpsc@-----.com>
Subj: RE: [kl] Bore Oil
Date: Wed, 3 Feb 1999 13:45:46 -0500

But Mr. Planas has totally missed the point of linseed oil in particular, or
any oil in general. Penetration has nothing to do with it (boy could make a
good pun here!). The purpose of oiling is to keep moisture from penetrating
the wood. Therefore you need a thin coat of oil on the surface of the wood,
not absorbed in it. Linseed oil leave an impervious skin on the outside of
the wood which lasts longer than the liquid oil layer of non-polymerizing
oils.

The comment on heavy (dense) woods absorbing less moisture is correct, and
that's the reason why some (not all) players get away with not oiling there
black wood instruments without any damage for decades.

Any owner of a boxwood instrument (or rosewood which is even less dense), is
foolish not to oil their instrument - assuming it is going to be played. If
the instrument is a historic one its downright sinful because it will be
ruined (just as it will be if it is improperly oiled or overused).

Steve

-----Original Message-----
From: Mark Charette [mailto:charette@-----.org]
Subject: Re: [kl] Bore Oil

A copy of an article by Ted Planas, "OILING THE WOOD", which appeared in
the Feb 1983 edition of "Clarinet and Saxophone", just appeared in the
newsgroup alt.music.clarinet . An interesting excerpt:

"The heavier woods do absorb moisture, but more slowly. But the amount
of oil
they absorb is negligible, especially Blackwood.....

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