Oil for woodwind

[Wylie2112]

I've got two fifes, simple, keyless flutes, made in ebony which I would like to look after properly. After a few soakings in whatever oil Mom had in the kitchen (the fifes, not me), I want to put the proper stuff on them. I beliee they are both ebony. One is about 30 years old, the other possible over 100 years.

What kind of oil would you recommend for this close-grained hardwood?

Cheers,
Wylie

 

[mr]

Praps a question for new member Jim Carroll Wylie, if he doesn't spot this thread I would be tempted to pm him.

Cheers Mike

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[MIGNAL]

Oh dear. That question. On woodwind forums you will find them discussing this endlessly. I think it basically comes down to 2 main types: drying or non drying oils. Pure Tung oil (drying) or Almond (non drying). If you use too much of a drying oil and use it far too frequently it can build into a finish and eventually change the diameter of the bore.
Try the Chiff and Fipple forum for other responses. It's been a long time since I made a wooden Recorder and there are probably other oils that can be used.

 

[Wylie2112]

Mignal,
I hadn't realised I'd opened up a can of worms. In the end I went with a fife collector in the US who sells a special oil concoction he's made up which he says works wonders. We'll see, but I have no reason to doubt it as he seems straight up. I'll give it a go when it arrives and see how I get on.

Interstingly enough, he did say that if I'd used tung oil on the bore, that I would have pretty much ruined the instrument, but I'm not entirely sure why.

Wylie

 

[MIGNAL]

Sorry but I don't believe in 'special concoctions'. It will be some type of oil or a mixture. The only way you will ruin the bore of the instrument is by over oiling and oiling too frequently with a drying oil such as Linseed or Tung oil. Both Linseed and Tung have been used on woodwind bores for donkeys years - it's how you apply it and how frequently that is the key (!).
A common oil (non drying) used in woodwinds is Almond - usually with added vitamin E to prevent it from going rancid. Some people mix in a little olive oil. Being a non drying oil means you have to apply it more frequently but there's little danger of it building into a varnish.
Having said all that I'm sure the oil you have bought will be perfectly suitable.