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Re: Key oil vs. Instrument oil"

Author: Matt74
Date: 2022-05-31 03:24

I think instrument manufacturers just sell thin valve oil and rename it "key oil", "bore oil", etc. You can use it on sticky doors or locks:)

"Key oil" is too thin to use on keys. The worst it will do is run out, evaporate, or get in the wood. It probably seems to work because if you have some old gummy stuff in there it will dissolve it and free it up.

If it's petroleum it has some kind of thinner in it like kerosene that evaporates. Synthetic is better, but I understand you have to be careful about mixing different kinds because some combinations gum up.

I use synthetic motor oil for keys - 5W-20. It's thicker and doesn't evaporate. I got transmission oil for Saxophones, but I wouldn't recommend exactly what I got because of the smell.

Some people use mineral oil on the bore, but IMHO think plant or nut oil is better.

- Matthew Simington

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