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Re: Key oil for Clarinet

Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2007-02-13 22:57

(Disclaimer - I sell aerospace lubricants)
When oiling - less frequently and in small amounts is better. Someone should devise and publish an oiling diagram for clarinets which shows the points of wear contact and appropriate oiling points.

Recommendations from the technicians that I know vary but once or twice a year seems to be the average with a thorough cleaning and reoiling - greasing at overhaul.

The old stand by used by technicians in the past was Nye clock oil which used to be made from sperm whale oil which has some wonderful properties and was the basis of the new synthetic oil synthesis techniques. Clocks were very prone to have evaporation of the oil which left a varnish or sludge in the mechanism which causes wear and slows down the mechanism so the properties of whale oil which does not readily evaporate or leave sludge were prized. Unfortunately with the decline of the whaling industry Nye changed formulations to a petroleum and plant oil based product which IMO is less effective.

Petroleum based products, if not used sparingly, can weep out and rot the wood around posts. Many light machine oils are based on mineral oil which does leave behind a varnish and if wood is soaked it will harm the wood structure over time. A tiny drop formed on the end of a tooth pick or with a needle tip applicator is all that is needed at each oiling point.

The new synthetic oils will not harm wood but vary in their properties. IMO the oils developed for aerospace applications make excellent key oils because they do not evaporate (a prerequisite for the vacuum of space), form a varnish or sludge, and do not change viscosity with extremes of temperature like many synthetic oils or petroleum products. Some aerospace oils have been engineered to form a molecular bond to metal increasing their lubricating and sticking properties. Since they do not evaporate they can be used more sparingly and less frequently than other petroleum based oils.

Your trusted technician is the best resource for oiling instructions.
L. Omar Henderson
www.doctorsprod.com

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Key oil for Clarinet new

Elkwoman46

2007-02-13 21:07