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Re: Bore Oiling Interval

Author: Fuzzy
Date: 2017-03-04 05:50

I'm still confused on this issue. I've never oiled my clarinets, but have been tempted to a time or two (the clarinets in question are currently in storage, but I've been thinking about taking one of them out again).

However...just as in this post, I don't see a lot of science suggesting whether oiling is better vs not oiling. To the contrary, it seems that manufacturers (which probably best know their wood, and the best way to treat it) indicate not oiling the clarinets. I guess there's always a chance that the manufacturers recommend not oiling - knowing that your instrument will go to instrument heaven more quickly, and a new clarinet will be bought sooner...but I'm somewhat doubtful of that angle.

I believe there are many variables which could cause the issues described in many of the posts above - which have nothing to do with oil (or the lack thereof). Could the acidity of the individual's saliva be causing the problems? Could the diet and oral hygiene habits of the various players be causing an impact? Does humidity of locale play a role? Do the various mold/fungi/spores in the regional areas play a role? There are almost infinite variables which might be at play in each of our own various observations. Plus, I would doubt the inner bore of our clarinets is a bastion of sterility - even with the most obsessive/compulsive cleaning of owners.

I live in a very arid climate, and don't oil my wooden furniture, clarinets, recorders, guitars, etc. In fact, I have found oiling wooden cutting boards in the kitchen to cause more problems than without oil (more splitting/warping, etc).

So - here I sit - totally undecided on which is best...oil? Or no oil? There just seems to be too many variables in which to make an informed analysis or decision (at least for me.)

I can see the benefits of both...but I just don't see many actual facts on which to base a change of my current non-oiling methods.

(Each time this topic comes up - I cross my fingers, grimace at the debate which will probably play out...yet still hope for something I can latch onto which will resolve this question of oiling vs no oiling for me.)

Fuzzy

Edit: corrected spelling

Post Edited (2017-03-04 05:57)

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2017-03-02 21:59