Hi!
I've recently bought a used wooden flute, and I would like to ask you about the care.
I’ve read on the Internet that is recommended to oil my flute for good keeping. What kind of oil must I use? Where can I get it? How must I oil my flute?
Another question: The keys of my flute are very noisy. I will take it to a flute-maker in some months, but up till then I would like to repair it at home: could you recommend me any web pages or book for learn to change the cork of the keys? Is there any lotion for get the keys bright?
Almond oil is best :P Get a cloth and put some oil on it and clean the inside of the flute with it (maybe a small bit on the outside to).
This is so the flute doesn't go dry because your tone won't be so great if it does. Clean it regularly. Don't put oil on the cloth everytime! Put some on it and put it into a plastic bag or something and it will last ages without you having to put oil on the cloth again. Saves oil.
As jtrout says, oiling is a can of worms and everyone has a different philosophy. I doubt you will want to sort though years of back C&F posts though. Here is an article on grenadilla care. Clarinets are made from blackwood and suffer the same problems with condensation in the bore as wooden flutes so it's relevant. http://www.naylors-woodwind-repair.com/Publications/life-everlasting-for-a-good-clarinet
I use sweet almond oil from a health food store, and oil my flutes (and clarinets) every couple months. Almond oil only stays fresh for 6-12 months and you need to keep it refrigerated. I use a paper towel on my cleaning rod to apply the oil. You can also use an old cloth swab but you'll have to wash it occasionally to get old, rancid oil out of it.
Don't get oil on pads, corks, or thread tenons. Some players cover the pads with plastic wrap to protect them. Put on a very thin coat of oil inside and out, just enough so the wood looks glossy. Look down the bore to be sure you haven't missed any spots. In a few hours I check the instrument and recoat anywhere that looks like all the oil has sunk in. The next day, wipe off any excess oil with a paper towel.
That was a good article; thanks Elaine. I haven't been playing
much clarinet in the last few years. Last time I played - rehearsing
the Brahms Trio about seven years ago - I couldn't believe
how flat I was. I used to have the opposite problem.
K, you said very little about what your flute is like. If it is "simple system", and each key has its own hinge and moves independently of all the other keys, your own repair of the pad is tricky but can be done with care. If the system is more elaborate, so that moving one lever has an effect on more than one pad, lifting it or holding it down as the case may be, you may find that the precision with which the corks and pads have to be adjusted in order to work properly together is too much for an amateur to achieve. In that case you may do better to patiently wait until you can afford a professional job.
I speak from experience!
And yes, the chiff and fipple site is probably a better place to look for advice.
Sam does recommend to 'neglect it creatively'. on his website however he recommends mopping it always though. Once or twice a year oiling works for me.
Wasn't it Matt Molloy who said "You only have to not bother swabbing your flute out if you don't want to keep it " or words to that effect ?
You should swab it out with the dry swab/pullthrough after every playing, to reduce condensation build-up inside. Can you imagine what happens to any piece of wood if you wet one side of it and leave it damp for long periods ?
As for the keys; why are you using them ? You're playing ITM, not classical in funny keys.
PS I'm only married to a flute player, but I know all this stuff.
Kass; re "...have never mopped it out and it plays brilliantly..."
As my mathematics tutor once told me " An incidence of one is insignificant..." .
Just because you have been lucky and your flute has survived this treatment SO FAR does not mean this should be recommended or copied by anyone else.
Hehe! Reminds me of a Spike Milligan story where he relates of a relative who -I paraphrase- swore that by wearing a root vegetable stuffed down his long-johns every day, he never once suffered from the yellow fever.
About wooden flute care
About wooden flute care
Hi!
I've recently bought a used wooden flute, and I would like to ask you about the care.
I’ve read on the Internet that is recommended to oil my flute for good keeping. What kind of oil must I use? Where can I get it? How must I oil my flute?
Another question: The keys of my flute are very noisy. I will take it to a flute-maker in some months, but up till then I would like to repair it at home: could you recommend me any web pages or book for learn to change the cork of the keys? Is there any lotion for get the keys bright?
Thanks in advance
# Posted on June 19th 2011 by Kikolo3000
Re: About wooden flute care
All of your questions are answered in controversial detail on the Chiff and Fipple Flute forum by simply doing a search of "flute oil".
# Posted on June 19th 2011 by jtrout
Re: About wooden flute care
Almond oil is best :P Get a cloth and put some oil on it and clean the inside of the flute with it (maybe a small bit on the outside to).
This is so the flute doesn't go dry because your tone won't be so great if it does. Clean it regularly. Don't put oil on the cloth everytime! Put some on it and put it into a plastic bag or something and it will last ages without you having to put oil on the cloth again. Saves oil.
# Posted on June 19th 2011 by Patrick Murray
Re: About wooden flute care
As far as repair, I'd recommend Hammy Hamilton's DVD-ROM.
http://www.hamiltonflutes.com/DVD-ROM.html
As jtrout says, oiling is a can of worms and everyone has a different philosophy. I doubt you will want to sort though years of back C&F posts though. Here is an article on grenadilla care. Clarinets are made from blackwood and suffer the same problems with condensation in the bore as wooden flutes so it's relevant.
http://www.naylors-woodwind-repair.com/Publications/life-everlasting-for-a-good-clarinet
I use sweet almond oil from a health food store, and oil my flutes (and clarinets) every couple months. Almond oil only stays fresh for 6-12 months and you need to keep it refrigerated. I use a paper towel on my cleaning rod to apply the oil. You can also use an old cloth swab but you'll have to wash it occasionally to get old, rancid oil out of it.
Don't get oil on pads, corks, or thread tenons. Some players cover the pads with plastic wrap to protect them. Put on a very thin coat of oil inside and out, just enough so the wood looks glossy. Look down the bore to be sure you haven't missed any spots. In a few hours I check the instrument and recoat anywhere that looks like all the oil has sunk in. The next day, wipe off any excess oil with a paper towel.
# Posted on June 19th 2011 by ElaineT
Re: About wooden flute care
That was a good article; thanks Elaine. I haven't been playing
much clarinet in the last few years. Last time I played - rehearsing
the Brahms Trio about seven years ago - I couldn't believe
how flat I was. I used to have the opposite problem.
# Posted on June 20th 2011 by Hup
Re: About wooden flute care
K, you said very little about what your flute is like. If it is "simple system", and each key has its own hinge and moves independently of all the other keys, your own repair of the pad is tricky but can be done with care. If the system is more elaborate, so that moving one lever has an effect on more than one pad, lifting it or holding it down as the case may be, you may find that the precision with which the corks and pads have to be adjusted in order to work properly together is too much for an amateur to achieve. In that case you may do better to patiently wait until you can afford a professional job.
I speak from experience!
And yes, the chiff and fipple site is probably a better place to look for advice.
# Posted on June 20th 2011 by Alex Wilding
Re: About wooden flute care
Some useful info here, including how you should break in a n old flute.
http://www.caseyburnsflutes.com/care.php
# Posted on June 20th 2011 by stoneboy2
Re: About wooden flute care
Ive been playing on a Rosewood Sam Murray flute for about 20 years.
I oil it about once a year,
clean it about once every four
have never mopped it out and it plays brilliantly.
Honestly!
Just saying!
# Posted on June 20th 2011 by Kess
Re: About wooden flute care
Sam does recommend to 'neglect it creatively'. on his website however he recommends mopping it always though. Once or twice a year oiling works for me.
http://www.murrayflutes.com/care-maintainence.html
# Posted on June 20th 2011 by Prof. Prlwytzkofski
Re: About wooden flute care
Wasn't it Matt Molloy who said "You only have to not bother swabbing your flute out if you don't want to keep it " or words to that effect ?
You should swab it out with the dry swab/pullthrough after every playing, to reduce condensation build-up inside. Can you imagine what happens to any piece of wood if you wet one side of it and leave it damp for long periods ?
As for the keys; why are you using them ? You're playing ITM, not classical in funny keys.
PS I'm only married to a flute player, but I know all this stuff.
# Posted on June 21st 2011 by Guernsey Pete
Re: About wooden flute care
Walnut oil is another excellent option...
# Posted on June 22nd 2011 by ceolachan
Re: About wooden flute care
Kass; re "...have never mopped it out and it plays brilliantly..."
As my mathematics tutor once told me " An incidence of one is insignificant..." .
Just because you have been lucky and your flute has survived this treatment SO FAR does not mean this should be recommended or copied by anyone else.
# Posted on June 23rd 2011 by Guernsey Pete
Re: About wooden flute care
Hehe! Reminds me of a Spike Milligan story where he relates of a relative who -I paraphrase- swore that by wearing a root vegetable stuffed down his long-johns every day, he never once suffered from the yellow fever.
# Posted on July 12th 2011 by cannyscribbler