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RE: Oiling new?

Author: TDC
Date: 2002-09-21 21:43

One of the things that damages wooden clarinets is repeated change in the moisture content of the wood. It swells the wood, allows it to shrink again when drier, and leads to stress fractures (cracking).
Everyone has noticed that clarinet joints are tighter in the summertime than in winter when the air is less humid. The wood swells up in summer.
That in mind, what's the answer? follow the mfg's suggestions? --some say oil monthly, others, oil twice a year. Follow instructions on the oil bottle? ("Oil the bore lightly every WEEK!!) Drives you mad.
Whatever method you adopt, I suggest that you use regular cork grease on the cork joints--I've found that hard waxy ones (Van Doren, Micro) are better than the greasy soft ones. And here's a secret. when you grease the corks rub a little into the end-grain. That's where moisture can penetrate easiest. It's also coincidentally where moisture accumulates when you play, at the joints.
As a matter of fact, when lumber companies are seasoning valuable woods like mahogany, walnut, rosewoods, etc, they paint the ends of the log or flitch with a tarry paint for that very reason--to control the transfer of moisture.
Think I'll go down to the music room and oil my bore.
Tom DC

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