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Oiling your keys: a cautionary tale

Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2015-05-26 19:19

I have always been good about oiling my keys regularly. Upon the advice from no less than Bill Brannen to do this once a month, I have done my best to be dutiful about this.

Within the last two years I have been lucky enough to do most of my playing on "loaner" horns. The best part is getting to try out more stuff, but I also am able to avoid wear and tear on my personal horn. In the last month I have gone back to my trusty personal horn after almost a full year hiatus. I figured I'd oil it AFTER I 'broke it back in.'

What I found today, was that many of the pivots were rather tough to back out (not "frozen" mind you, but I needed to exert some force to get them out). I also found that most of the oiled surfaces (pivots and rods) were covered in thicker, blacker oil (much thicker and blacker than I was comfortable seeing). This usually indicates the presents of worn metal shavings in the oil as well as dirt and just thickening with age.

So just leaving your clarinet sitting over time will require some maintenance every now and then if you want it to stay in top working order.

I know some of you are rather adamantly opposed to oiling keys as often as once a month (and I'm sure that is NOT out of laziness but rather the idea that it is unnecessary to be that frequent). Admittedly I often 'forget' to get around to it EVERY 30 days, but I do average once every two months when I am constantly on one horn.

The alternative to having a good coating of clean oil between your pivots (and rods) and your keys is metal on metal contact with the constant grinding away of fine bits of metal EVERY time you practice or perform.

Just a friendly reminder to be nice to your axe.

.................Paul Aviles

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