 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Benny
Date: 2002-01-20 13:37
I've heard about how some people oil their bores every year or so. What purpose does this serve? My horn is about one year old, so should I get my teacher to show me how to do it? Thanks
Benny
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Author: jbutler
Date: 2002-01-20 15:11
Benny,
Search the archieves especially for threads by Omar Henderson, aka, Dr.'s Products. Better yet drop him an email. He probably has an email link on the sneezy sponsor page. For the short answer: Let your repair tech take care of oiling the bore when you clarinet is due for it's first repad or overhaul. It should be fine after a year unless your clarinet has been exposed to rather harsh elements.
jbutler
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Author: jcannon
Date: 2002-01-20 20:17
I am not an expert but have read it is best in the first year to oil the bore several times. The oiling process keeps the wood from absorbing too much moisture and also from cracking. It is not hard to do on your own. A few drops of bore oil on an old swab run through the instrument several times is all you do. You can get bore oil at any dealer who handles ooboe/ bassoons.
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Author: Peter
Date: 2002-01-20 21:21
Some clarinet manufacturers specifically tell you in their instructions not to oil a new clarinet of their manufacture during the warranty period. If you do and it splits, if they find out that you have oiled it, you may lose your warranty. I don't know why this is, I would venture to say oiling would help it not to crack under certain conditions, but this is how it is.
Don't use commercial bore oils as sold in most music stores, as they are petroleum product derivatives and, though there are many opinions on the subject, ostensibly bad for the wood.
Almond oil is supposed to be good for the wood. I've started using the Doctor's bore oil, which is a witch's brew of almond oil with some other things thrown in. It is specially formulated and supposed to help the wood retain the right amount of moisture, etc., while still allowing it to breathe and leave no residues to clog the grain structure.
At least, this is my understanding of it. I have used it on two clarinets and I'm very happy with it. I just recently bought the largest size he sells to put on 16 clarinets, 12 wood and bamboo flutes and a piano.
One of the clarinets I used it on had not been oiled for a while, the wood was dull and dried out, the grain stucture so open that it looked like it was starting to develop cracks. It had to be oiled several times before it stopped absorbing the oil. It was wonderful to see the wood literally come to life as it absorbed the oil. The grain structure closed up and became smooth and clean once more. When it was done it looked like new and, believe it or not, seemed to play much better than before.
I have always let my instrument technician oil all my clarinets and flutes, because I like them taken completely apart before oiling, so there is nothing in the way of the oiling, and every nook and crannie is completely free to absorb the oil. Also, since my preference for the Doctor's products, I started supplying the technician with the oil I want used.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2002-01-20 21:37
"To oil or not to oil" (that is the question)
This discussion and topic seems to appear on the bulletin every 3 or 4 months. (It's now January - the last discussion was in the fall of last year)
Here is the most recent thread (and a good compilation of opinions) on the pros and cons:
http://www.sneezy.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=55773&t=55644
An additional search will give you even more.
The jury is still out. Just like mouthpieces: ask 10 people and you'll get 20 opinions...GBK
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Author: Hiroshi
Date: 2002-01-21 02:50
(Vegetable)oiling is to re-juvenate the wood. Unlike clarinet manufacturers, recorder manufacturers papers tell we should oil recorders often especially during the first year. It may compensate the shortened aging period. If so I suspect to believe clarinet manufacaturers' paper may not be suitable. Indeed after oiling and drying for several days, my 10SII started to emit fresher and crispier sounds. To avoid rottening of vegetable oil, someone advised to add Vitaming E, the liquid inside the coverage.
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Author: Hiroshi
Date: 2002-01-21 02:55
(Vegetable)oiling is to re-juvenate the wood. Unlike clarinet manufacturers, recorder manufacturers papers tell we should oil recorders often especially during the first year. It may compensate the shortened aging period. If so I suspect to believe clarinet manufacaturers' paper may not be suitable. Indeed after oiling and drying for several days, my 10SII started to emit fresher and crispier sounds. To avoid rottening of vegetable oil, someone advised to add Vitaming E, the liquid inside the coverage.
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Author: Jim E.
Date: 2002-01-21 04:18
Buffet is one of those manufacturers.
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Author: t
Date: 2002-01-21 10:42
more complete info, including specialty organic oil and oil rods at:
http://naylors-woodwind-repair.com
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Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2002-01-21 11:15
Just a few points that are ofen overlooked in these long-winded discussions on bore oiling.
Heed the manufacturer's recommendations to protect your warranty.
Many of the taboos about oiling wood are based on use of the wrong kind of oil in an improper way - frequency and amount of oil used.
All the major manufacturer impregnate their wood prior to machining with plant derived oil (both to add to the wood stability and correct moisture content but also to aid in machining).
Over oiling - especially with the petroleum based products sold on the market (if it is uncolored and clear it is most likely mineral oil) is bad. Major repair technicians use plant derived oils on woods they think need it (that experienced eye).
Plant derived oils maintain a moisture balance within the wood and may be necessary (IMHO) in certain environmental conditions - dry conditions, etc..
Plant oils are lost from wood due to their association with water and wash out. Oils have a certain vapor pressure (small but not insignificant for plant oils) and oils do evaporate.
All plant oils are not the same and for wood preservation certain oils should not be used - Vitamin E is primarily an animal antioxidant - their are very powerful natural antioxidants available for plant oils.
The Doctor
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Author: Roman Eller
Date: 2002-01-21 13:56
Welll you need to oil your bore at least 1 once a week, that's if you have a wood clarinet.
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Author: Bob
Date: 2002-01-21 14:40
All articles pertaining to the care of wood furniture and flooring will advise never to get water on either one. Unfortunately wood clarinets are exposed to "water" every time you play them. From an internal stress standpoint a clarinet(oboe etc.) is an engineering nightmare with unbalanced holes almost all on one-half of the circumference. Add to this the increasing shortage of suitable wood and the shorter curing times and one can imagine that present day wood clarinets are more prone to cracking than they used to be. Treatment of the bore(and exterior!) with "oil" to help prevent cracking is probably mandatory today. How often is a personal thing. Most people in business will usually hedge their recommendations on the safe side for obvious reason. My personal preference is to "treat" both the inside and outside of my wood clarinet about every month. I use "gun patches" i.e. 38special or thereabouts calibre available at any gun shop and an aluminum gun cleaning rod being very careful not to touch the inside bore and "extensions" with the rod. I use tung oil available at any Ace or similar hardware store. Don't get any on pads. I allow the oil to penetrate while I have a cup of coffee and then I go back and swab with clean patches.I rub the outside with my bare fingers...it helps prevent chapping. Sometimes I use linseed oil sometimes thinned with a little turpentine. Follow directions on container regarding safety considerations. If you are inherently clumsy wrap electricians tape(not plumbers tape) on the aluminum rod. You may have some of this handy from using it on your reeds!! Even if you use this treatment or any of the more conventional usually recommended ones there is no guarantee your wood clarinet will not crack......
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Author: Martha E
Date: 2002-02-26 19:35
Does anyone know of a good plant-derived oil for clarinets that does not contain almond oil? (My son is deathly allergic to almonds.)
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