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RE: Oiling

Author: paul
Date: 1999-09-02 22:01

Whoa!!!!

There are two different oils for the clarinet, both must be used extremely sparingly, if at all.

First, the key oil is the most dangerous. It's a petroleum based oil that's used to prevent rust and provide a thin film of lubrication for the metal keys and rods. It can attract water after a while, so be extremely sparing in its use. Never allow key oil to make contact with your wood. It can take the laquer right off and ruin your wood.

Second, many of the bore oil mixes that you can buy commercially not only contain a vegetable based oil, they also contain petroleum distillates. I personally would suggest only a vegetable based oil, such as sweet almond oil that you can buy at a local gourmet store. When I oiled my wood horn, I used 5 drops or less for the entire horn (inside the bore and on the outside). I've since stopped oiling the bore on my recent vintage wood horn.

However, with all that said, check with a local repair tech about your own horn. Some manufacturers recommend oiling the wood every now and then. Some other makers don't recommend oiling the wood at all. Typically, the grenadilla wood on most recent vintage horns is pretty oily or it's oil soaked at the factory for life.

Take care to keep your horn in condition by keeping it out of rough conditions and situations. Avoid harsh weather exposure. For instance, try not to march outdoors with it. Thoroughly swab out and wipe down your horn after each session. Keep the horn stored in its case when you aren't playing it. Use the factory supplied case if you have one, because it's made for the horn and it will keep the keys protected the best.

Simple and small preventive care tricks will help extend the life of your horn the most. Oiling the keys or the wood should be done only when absolutely needed and with the expert help and advice of your local clarinet repair tech or professional tutor.

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