 The Oboe BBoard
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Author: Oboe Craig
Date: 2012-01-15 01:52
Because of the drastic weather fluctuations during the past month, most music shops are overwhelmed with Oboe crack repairs right now. Would you please forward these suggestion to any woodwind musicians who might find them beneficial.
Thanks,
Alvin Swiney
Basic Crack Prevention
Here are a few suggestions for wood care and crack prevention that my repair teacher, W. Hans Moennig recommends:
Never buy a new instrument during the cold winter months as extreme temperature fluctuations will increase wood cracks by 100%. The great oboists, Marcel Tabuteau, would only buy instruments during the months of June and July. He felt that this would give him a chance to gradually break the new instruments in over the Summer and allow them to acclimatize naturally. When instrument are shipped during cold weather, they can sit on loading docks and shipping carts under freezing conditions for long periods of time. This exposure dries out the already unstable wood and causes the pads to detach from the key cups. After delivery, the player deposits large amounts of moisture inside the bore which causes the internal wall to expand against an external wall which has contracted due to dehydration. These opposing forces against the fragile wooden instrument wall will inevitably result in one or more major cracks.
Use a humidifier to supplement the moisture of the horn. Suspension humidifiers work better than dampets as they do not come in direct contact with the wooden instrument body thus causing stress.
Always store the horn in a wooden cabinet or desk drawer to insulate it from outside humidity changes.
When Traveling store the instrument in an ice chest to prevent temperature exposer. (No ice please)
If using orange peelings (A natural humidifier) Please allow the peelings to dry at least 12 hours before use. Never allow peelings to touch the keys as citrus acid will cause plating to oxidize, corrode or even flake off. Store peeling in a reed slot and not on wood as mold can occur.
Never store the instrument near heaters, air conditioners, or even air vents as this will dry the wood to quickly and add even more stress.
Use a wooden instrument case with a heavily insulated case cover.
Never leave your horn idled out of the case for more than two hours as this will cause the outside wall to dry faster than the inside bore. (Stress)
Never leave your horn on an instrument stand as the bore will not dry on the peg and the tenons corks will compress and become loose.
Leave the swab in the case and NOT in the bore. The extra moisture will help. And the horn will dry internally. Pull through silk swabs are recommended instead of the stick type.
Use a light bore spray or Almond oil and not the gummy commercial bore oils from music stores.
Blow the tone holes dry with compressed air before placing the instrument in case as swabs do not remove water from tone holes, only the bore.
(CLARINETISTS) Coat the Barrel and upper joint with wood conditioner such as Bore All to maintain stability in bore dimensions and tuning. This should be done every 3 to 4 months for best results.
(OBOISTS and CLARINETISTS) Use wood wedges to prop open trill and G# keys. This will allow the horn to dry more evenly and reduce wood stress. This suggestions is from Arkansas State University Professor, Dan Ross.
Play the instrument every day for at least 30 minutes to keep moisture in the wooden body!!!!! Most important rule of all!!!!!
For an illustrated brochure on crack prevention, please send a self addressed, stamped envelope(legal size) to:
A. Swiney
3126 W Cary St #237
Richmond, VA 23221
email: corkpad@aol.com
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Author: plclemo
Date: 2012-01-15 02:33
Very useful info - both for my oboe and clarinet. Thanks for reprinting.
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Author: Oboe Craig
Date: 2012-01-15 04:31
You will find many opinions out here about this stuff, but I posted because if Hans Moennig thought it useful to oil, I will take that over any other opinions.
I've personally had 4 oboes over the years, and the only one that cracked was the one I did not oil.
I also used the orange peel trick back in Va. for a Loree and a Covey and ... no cracks.
Good luck with it all in all regards.
This roster from Alvin has me thinking many things...
Old dog, and new tricks are always welcome. As are all oboe lovers.
![[toast]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smiley15.gif)
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Author: DrewSorensenMusic
Date: 2012-01-15 17:59
Good stuff,
I'm pretty sure nut oils like Almond Oil, Boiled Linseed Oil, and others help prevent cracks by providing a water barrier. They won't do anything for temperature, but after reading a bunch about the benefits and arguments for and against oiling, it appears that these oils upon drying create a very thin hardened barrier that prevents fluid transmission to the wood. I'm not sure how permiable they are, I don't think they are 100%, but maybe they are. But I guess the enzymes in your mouth that help you digest food would get into the bore when you play, which is why it is recommended to oil every 6 monts. That being said, I play a buffet greenline and will purchase a lined upper joint oboe in the future, cause cold pits are just so unforgiving.
Note, Almond Oil is edible, Boiled Linseed Oil is not, so I'd go with Almond Oil. I've also heard Walnut Oil is also a viable substitute.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2012-01-15 20:17
From what I've been told, raw linseed oil is better than boiled.
As for the best time of year to buy an oboe, if you do have mild Springs, then a good time to buy one is April/May time as it'll be fully played in by the time Winter sets in.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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