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Re: traveling with oboe

Author: Bucky Badger
Date: 2003-11-01 01:18

I use a pheasant feather (from a hunter I know)--chicken feathers will not fit the top section--anything that fits and will not leave feather pieces in the instrument should work. Now you can go out and pay big bucks for bore oil, but my old oboe teacher Marcel Danbois used (and I use) heavy mineral oil. You put some drops on the feather and run the feather between your fingers so that the feather is moist and not dripping oil. You spin the feather around when it is in each of the three oboe sections. My teacher back in the 1960 (name mentioned above) told me to do the oiling every 6 months and especially when you would be putting the instrument away for months---especial during season changes. My instrument purchased in 1967 has no cracks, also the wood over dozens of years can contract and then the posts (holding the key rods) may cause the keys to bind;another good reason to oil the wood.

By the way, if you ever get a SMALL crack you might be able to fix it by putting the broken section in a sealed plastic bag with fresh orange peals. Left overnight the citric acid causes the wood to contract. Then you can use super glue down the "reduced" crack and let it take. For large cracks you can and should let professionals "pin" the instrument to get it in playing condition. Orange peals left for DAYS however will mildew.

jim buchholz

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