 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: michael13162
Date: 2012-03-05 01:17
After my new 1 month old cocobolo barrel cracked, my teacher recommended me to oil the wood more often. When I went to the company to choose the replacement, I told the guy there about how I never oiled the thing. He said that was perfectly OK and it was scientifically proven that oiling the wood on a clarinet helps in no way unless the wood is drastically lacking moisture... So should I oil it or no? And if I should continue oiling it, how often is it necessary? I live in dry, dry Utah BTW.
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Author: SteveG_CT
Date: 2012-03-05 02:46
I wouldn't trust anyone saying that this issue has been "scientifically proven" one way or the other unless they are prepared to show you the data that allows them to make such a claim. To my knowledge an extensive study has never been done and this remains one of the many controversial subject in the clarinet world. Personally I believe cracking has a lot to do with wood drying out and shrinking, which has very little to do with whether you have oiled it recently or not. I recommend running a humidifier in the room where you store your clarinets and try to maintain the humidity at ~45-50%.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2012-03-05 09:33
Ok, wood is NOT a static material. It breathes and takes in (or not) the moisture around it. Personally I oil. I oil a brand new clarinet (light coating one evening at a time until the coating pools at the bottom....then stop), brand new barrels, anything wood. This way, the copious amounts of moisture you thrust down the bore EVERY TIME YOU PLAY aren't a shock to its system.
If you guys can find a way to play with no moisture involved, then we can talk about not oiling.
....................Paul Aviles
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Author: dperreno
Date: 2012-03-05 12:58
Yes, a controversial topic, to be sure. Reminds me of the never-ending debate on my cycling forum as to what kind of chain lube is best.
Although I've read a lot of opinions on whether or not oiling works to prevent cracks, I don't recall anyone saying that oiling will harm your instrument (providing you use an appropriate oil). My thought is, if it doesn't hurt, and it may help, why not?
Personally, I think that the arguments in favor are persuasive: namely that the oil helps in reducing the amount of moisture absorbed by the wood during playing, and thus reduces the stresses that can cause cracking.
Doug
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Author: William
Date: 2012-03-05 16:12
No science here, just personal experiance over the past 50 yrs. I've NEVER oiled the bore of any of my 17+ pro level clarinets and have never experienced any cracking or bore shrinkage. Probably moderation is the best recommendation anyone can make, but be sure not to over-do it least the build-up becomes "the problem". Once a year should be MORE than enough, and then only a little. If it drips, it's tooooo much. But again, for me, the answer is....NEVER.
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Author: Sean.Perrin
Date: 2012-03-05 17:27
Never oiled or humidified for 10 years and counting. I did have one crack, but that was during the one week that I decided to START humidifying as an experiment.
Went back, and haven't had any problems since.
Founder and host of the Clarineat Podcast: http://www.clarineat.com
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Author: SteveG_CT
Date: 2012-03-05 17:38
Sean.Perrin wrote:
> Never oiled or humidified for 10 years and counting. I did have
> one crack, but that was during the one week that I decided to
> START humidifying as an experiment.
>
> Went back, and haven't had any problems since.
>
Perhaps you have better humidity controls in your home than I do. If I don't run a humidifier during the winter months the tenon rings on my clarinets get so loose they will fall off without any force being applied (uncontrolled relative humidity is <20% in the winter). This has resulted in split sockets on more than one ocassion. Since I started using the humidifier during the winter I haven't had any issues with loose rings and have had no subsequent cracks.
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Author: Sean.Perrin
Date: 2012-03-05 17:48
Where do you live? Where I am it's actually so dry that the problem stems from the humidity of the case (if humidified) simply can't compete with the ultra-dry air. The second it comes out of the case, BAM... it starts drying out immediately. This is why it cracked, so I just stopped bothering. It doesn't seem to make a difference for me, but maybe I'm doing everything all wrong! :P
Founder and host of the Clarineat Podcast: http://www.clarineat.com
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Author: clarinetguy ★2017
Date: 2012-03-05 20:50
When I was growing up in the 60s, there was an older man who was one-of-a-kind who repaired clarinets in his basement. He didn't mind me watching him work, and he always had great stories and advice. He was a very strong believer in regular oiling.
When I got my R-13 in the early 70s, it came with Buffet bore oil. The store's repair technician was adamant that the bore should not be oiled. He told me, "I've had my clarinet for 35 years and have never oiled it."
I've written about this recently, but I'll write it again: I had a chance to speak with a Buffet rep a few years ago. I asked him about oiling, and he said not to.
A few years ago, I bought a Clark Fobes barrel, and it came with a small bottle of Grenad-Oil. I asked Clark about it, and he said to oil (which I've done). I've also resumed oiling my clarinet (with Bore Doctor), although I don't do it frequently. It might be my imagination, but it seems to sound a bit better after oiling. Today's plant-based bore oils may be superior to the light mineral oils that were once commonly used.
For an interesting article on the topic, I recommend this Larry Naylor article. Perhaps (and I emphasize the word "perhaps") regular oiling helps to keep the bore perfectly round.
http://www.naylors-woodwind-repair.com/Grenadilla.htm
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Author: FDF
Date: 2012-03-05 23:37
When I got my Selmer CT about 1956, I followed the directions precisely. I oiled the clarinet as directed for the first months. Then stopped, as directed. Have not oiled my clarinet in Fifty plus years and it is as solid and tuneful as ever. Lucky? Maybe. But, I did it as directed.
Time and wood quality changes. So. the above comment on moderation is probably the best.
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Author: mvjohnso
Date: 2012-03-06 01:10
I didn't oil for a while, because Buffet told me not to. But, I changed my mind because of two reasons: (1) wood care, and (2) sound. When looking at oiling through these two factors you realize you have nothing to loose. I have never heard of an instrument cracking because because it did not have the necessary oils; however, I have heard of them cracking because it didn't. And, I have never heard of a clarinet sounding worse due to it; to the contrary, they tend to sound better (by way of being more open and less constricted). Also, it is a cheap fix and the wood looks better afterwords. Thus, I did give oiling a try (best thing ever) and would recommend that you do too, if you don't like it just don't oil again and let it dry out.
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2012-03-07 16:05
I've never oiled my clarinets, never had a crack in any of them. Some 45 years old one 4 years old. 2Bb, A, Eb and bass. I think my repair guy oils the bore when I have them overhaulled, about once every 10 years, I take very good care of them. I do however oil my Backun bells and barrels because he suggested I do that once in a while, couple times a year. This will always be controversial, forever and forever. My opinion is that oiling will not do any harm if you cover the pads and not oiling may not do any harm unless you live in a very dry climate. It's a crap shoot.
ESP eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: Chris Hill
Date: 2012-03-10 05:14
When I lived in a more humid climate, I used dampits, and never oiled the bore. I've changed my mind, now that I live in a place where the humidity in humidified buildings is less than 30%. In fact, a friend of mine once showed me a reading of 3% humidity on her gauge! Even dampits don't always keep the wood from becoming overly dry here.
BTW, as a former Realtor, I would suggest that you don't humidify your house any more than the charts tell you. For example, at 20F, you can humidify up to 35%; at -20F, you can only humidify up to 15%, or you can cause the areas around your windows to rot. If it gets really cold, as in -30F or worse, I usually still keep it at 15%, because it usually doesn't stay there that many days per year in my local climate.
Chris
Post Edited (2012-03-13 04:56)
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