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RE: Oiling new?

Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2002-09-16 16:19

Ilkka: Dr. Henderson is perhaps the wisest person on Earth when it comes to oils and greases to be used on Clarinets. He declines to offer recommendations to use his own products, as Mr. Charette does not permit anyone to "self-promote" on the Bulletin Board. It's a good plan, because otherwise we would be drowning in advertisements.

However, I can and will offer up a suggestion that you likely could do no better than his products. Oil, cork grease, and even key oil. Now for my list of things to avoid:

1. Avoid going against recommendations of your Clarinet's builder. You would do so at the risk of voiding your warranty. If that does not matter to you, do what makes sense to you.

2. Do not use mineral oil for a Clarinet bore. In the past, I used Olive oil without ill effect, but I now use Dr. Henderson's oil. The Doctor's Products bore oil is an organic oil which has antioxodants (and other additives) so that the oil will not become rancid. (Should that happen, your Clarinet would smell very bad.) Do note that most bore oil sold by Clarinet makers is mineral oil. Why they do that is something I cannot understand. As Dr. Henderson notes, the manufacturers do not use mineral oil on Clarinet wood in their own factories.

3. Vaseline may be fine for many uses, but it is not suitable for corks. It is a petroleum-based product, as is mineral oil. Wood can be damaged by using it, and corks are made of wood. Dr. Henderson sells a cork grease which is the least likely to cause cork damage.

4. I would not oil a Clarinet until it is becoming dry. As moisture leaves the Clarinet (due to keeping the instrument in conditions of low humidity), it becomes more likely to crack. Replace the lost water with water (by using a humidifier), and the instrument will continue to expand and contract with changes in humidity, and this is not good. Replace that water with non-volatile oil, and the instrument will be restored to proper condition and tend to remain in proper condition, as the oil will not evaporate. If more moisture evaporates from the wood, oil it again. When to oil? You can tell if the instrument is shrinking due to loss of moisture if the tenon socket rings or the ring at the bottom of the bell start to become loose. If any of these is the tiniest bit loose, it's a good time to apply some oil. And use proper oil. The Doctor's Products can sell you the best stuff for this purpose. And do avoid getting oil on the pads. This admonition number four is my suggestion only and is not universally acknowledged as the right thing to do. Read what everyone has to say, then make up your own mind.

5. Although you didn't ask about this, I suggest key axles not be oiled without cleaning them first. The black glop that comes off when you clean them is old oil which has accumulated a lot of dust. Too much dust will cause wear. Remove the key, clean thoroughly, then re-oil with a *tiny* amount of proper oil. If you are concerned in the slightest about your lack of experience in removing and replacing keys, do *not* do this yourself. Trust this work instead to a good technician. This is because if you make a mistake, the Clarinet may require adjustment beyond your ability. Fortunately, the re-oiling process usually is not required for a very long time (many years) unless you play in a very dusty environment.

The Doctor's Products is a Sponsor of this Bulletin Board. I suggest that anyone consider the use of these products because I believe them to be very good materials, not because I have any financial interest in their sale, which I definitely do not. I pay full price for my stuff, the same as everyone else. You can get contact information on any sponsor by clicking on the "Sponsored By" area at the top of this page.

Regards,
John

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