Klarinet Archive - Posting 000675.txt from 2003/03

From: "Lacy, Edwin" <el2@-----.edu>
Subj: [kl] RE: Oiling
Date: Mon, 17 Mar 2003 10:14:33 -0500

Walter Grabner wrote:
=A0
<<<If we accept all "old wive's tales" as fact, and not challenge them - =
we will learn nothing new at all.>>>
=A0
It seems to me as though the experiment of soaking grenadilla for a long =
time and then slicing it to see the actual results would constitute =
scientific experimentation, even though perhaps of a rather =
unsophisticated kind.=A0 It is the long-standing belief that wood, all =
kinds of wood, should be oiled that would seem to be more in the nature =
of an accepted truism with little other than anecdotal evidence to back =
it up.=A0 Furniture makers often oiled the wood in pieces they make, and =
it is obvious that softer woods can benefit from oiling, so the =
assumption is made that all woods should be treated similarly.
=A0
(As someone else suggested, I now seem to recall that it was indeed Hans =
Moennig who kept a block of grenadilla more or less permanently soaking =
in oil in his shop.)
=A0
One thing I can agree to is that probably no harm will come to the wood =
of a clarinet or oboe soaked in oil, unless excessive oil is left on the =
surface or gets on the pads.
=A0
Ed Lacy
University of Evansville

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