While I wait for a reply from the flute maker, I will ask here. How do I wax the tenon on my wood flute? When I melt a bit of red ski wax and apply it to the tenon, it hardens and doesn't really absorb into the thread. It sort of works, but not really. What is the method here?
yes. thanks. I tried pulling a few inches off and dragging the thread across the edge of the wax block and that felt right. With yesterday's gunky application and that partial rewax, the joint is firm again.
Gently heat beeswax and petroleum jelly (eg. vaseline) in a sauce pan for a few mins until it melts and mix this together. Pour the hot mix into whatever container you want to keep it in. Apply the mixture to the hemp thread when it has cooled down.
Oiling the flute - I've always used almond oil, put it on a strip of old T-shirt,and run it through the flute with a hand crafted Chinese flute rod (i.e. - an old chopstick I sanded down the corners on).
I'm using Terry McGee's advice of taking a strip of T-shirt 7,5cm x 4cm, saturating it in Almond oil (with Vitamin E to stop it going rancid), and keeping the strip in a plastic resealable coin bag. At the moment I'm oiling once a week, as the flute's still new.
At first I was really frustrated by how long the oil seemed to take take to dry... until someone helpfully pointed out that almond oil was non-drying. Doh!
Further to the subject of waxing and oiling your flute. Almond oil seems to be a favourite - but other nuts provide oils and waxes that may actually be better. At the moment I'm experimenting with the wax from brazil nuts, and everyone who's seen my flute recently has commented on how fine it looks after it's had it's brazilian wax.
(I'll fetch my ... etc)
oil with almond oil, be careful not to get it on your clothes as it is messy stuff to get out of clothes... clean ur flute out with newspapers rolled long ways... very absorbant, this will clean out all the guff inside and u can throw it away after as who wants to keep a smelly 'flute cleaner' covered in crud? Also have old newspaper on the ground too to catch all the oil that drips out... Ii personally wouldn't oil every week, every month or so should be fine. Furthermore, if your flute has keys, try and keep the oil away from the key pads as they are pretty absorbant and will soak up oil afterwards. What I usually do is lift the keys after oiling, and put newspaper between the keypads and the actual hole on the flute to soak up all the unwanted oil that the keys have absorbed. I don't think using newspaper to clean the flute is too environmentally unfriendly as they are usually binned by most households after use anyhow, so why not give them one last use? saves keeping an old manky t-shirt lying about anyhow. hope this is of help!
The best cloth I've found for oiling is the eyeglass cleaning cloth most any eyeglass place will give you free. Be sure it's untreated as some are.
Cotton tends to leave lint at times.
Eyeglass cloths are very silk-like and leave no lint and hold the oil for a long time without drying out. Terrific for outside the flute, too.
Trick for oiling those tough to get at spots under keys or springs, between blocks, etc: Use a synthetic Q-tip dipped in the oil!
Regarding waxing of threads. Go to a sporting goods store where hunting bows are sold. Ask for bow string wax.
Comes in a stick. Rub it on, work it in and you're set as long as you'd like. One stick will last a lifetime!
Agree with the beeswax and vaseline mix. Mate of mine keeps bees and has supplied me with a little box of the mix which works fine.
For a quick fix when you are out you can use waxed dental floss.
I'm also an almond oil man but use it very infrequently. Just drizzle a load into one of the sections and roll around until well covered. Then use a small bit of j cloth [ sort of disposable paper cloth] on the end of a length of wire twisted to created a little reaming stick to clean it out and smooth around the bore. Works a treat!
Waxing a wood flute
Waxing a wood flute
While I wait for a reply from the flute maker, I will ask here. How do I wax the tenon on my wood flute? When I melt a bit of red ski wax and apply it to the tenon, it hardens and doesn't really absorb into the thread. It sort of works, but not really. What is the method here?
# Posted on June 16th 2004 by scott.r
Re: Waxing a wood flute
yes. thanks. I tried pulling a few inches off and dragging the thread across the edge of the wax block and that felt right. With yesterday's gunky application and that partial rewax, the joint is firm again.
# Posted on June 16th 2004 by scott.r
Re: Waxing a wood flute
I make up a mixture of beeswax and medicinal paraffin. This gives a wax which can be smeared on the cork/thread and is easily absorbed.
# Posted on June 17th 2004 by Ottery
Re: Waxing a wood flute
As above, but beeswax and vaseline
# Posted on June 17th 2004 by cariad
Re: Waxing a wood flute
Gently heat beeswax and petroleum jelly (eg. vaseline) in a sauce pan for a few mins until it melts and mix this together. Pour the hot mix into whatever container you want to keep it in. Apply the mixture to the hemp thread when it has cooled down.
# Posted on June 17th 2004 by Murrough
Re: Waxing a wood flute
Apologies for dropping in on this thread but the title made me smile.
Q. Open the door! What are you doing in there?
A. Just waxing the oul' wood flute, dear.
# Posted on June 17th 2004 by Bren
Re: Waxing a wood flute
Would it be too much to ask about oiling now?
# Posted on June 17th 2004 by scott.r
Oiling a wood flute
Really, though. Not what to use so much as how to apply it, especially internally. Weighted cloth? Paper? Just pour it in and turn the flute?
# Posted on June 17th 2004 by scott.r
Re: Waxing a wood flute
Oiling the flute - I've always used almond oil, put it on a strip of old T-shirt,and run it through the flute with a hand crafted Chinese flute rod (i.e. - an old chopstick I sanded down the corners on).
Eric
# Posted on June 17th 2004 by Jayhawk
Re: Waxing a wood flute
I'm using Terry McGee's advice of taking a strip of T-shirt 7,5cm x 4cm, saturating it in Almond oil (with Vitamin E to stop it going rancid), and keeping the strip in a plastic resealable coin bag. At the moment I'm oiling once a week, as the flute's still new.
At first I was really frustrated by how long the oil seemed to take take to dry... until someone helpfully pointed out that almond oil was non-drying. Doh!
On Glauber's recommendation I've ordered some Bore Doctor from http://www.doctorsprod.com/BoreDr.html
# Posted on June 17th 2004 by Q
Re: Waxing a wood flute
Further to the subject of waxing and oiling your flute. Almond oil seems to be a favourite - but other nuts provide oils and waxes that may actually be better. At the moment I'm experimenting with the wax from brazil nuts, and everyone who's seen my flute recently has commented on how fine it looks after it's had it's brazilian wax.
(I'll fetch my ... etc)
# Posted on June 17th 2004 by Ottery
Re: Waxing a wood flute
Finally something to do with those threadbare t-shirts and dust-gathering chopsticks. Thanks Jayhawk and Q.
# Posted on June 18th 2004 by scott.r
Re: Waxing a wood flute
oil with almond oil, be careful not to get it on your clothes as it is messy stuff to get out of clothes... clean ur flute out with newspapers rolled long ways... very absorbant, this will clean out all the guff inside and u can throw it away after as who wants to keep a smelly 'flute cleaner' covered in crud? Also have old newspaper on the ground too to catch all the oil that drips out... Ii personally wouldn't oil every week, every month or so should be fine. Furthermore, if your flute has keys, try and keep the oil away from the key pads as they are pretty absorbant and will soak up oil afterwards. What I usually do is lift the keys after oiling, and put newspaper between the keypads and the actual hole on the flute to soak up all the unwanted oil that the keys have absorbed. I don't think using newspaper to clean the flute is too environmentally unfriendly as they are usually binned by most households after use anyhow, so why not give them one last use? saves keeping an old manky t-shirt lying about anyhow. hope this is of help!
# Posted on June 18th 2004 by Murrough
Re: Waxing a wood flute
The best cloth I've found for oiling is the eyeglass cleaning cloth most any eyeglass place will give you free. Be sure it's untreated as some are.
Cotton tends to leave lint at times.
Eyeglass cloths are very silk-like and leave no lint and hold the oil for a long time without drying out. Terrific for outside the flute, too.
Trick for oiling those tough to get at spots under keys or springs, between blocks, etc: Use a synthetic Q-tip dipped in the oil!
Regarding waxing of threads. Go to a sporting goods store where hunting bows are sold. Ask for bow string wax.
Comes in a stick. Rub it on, work it in and you're set as long as you'd like. One stick will last a lifetime!
# Posted on June 18th 2004 by RudallRose
Re: Waxing a wood flute
Agree with the beeswax and vaseline mix. Mate of mine keeps bees and has supplied me with a little box of the mix which works fine.
For a quick fix when you are out you can use waxed dental floss.
I'm also an almond oil man but use it very infrequently. Just drizzle a load into one of the sections and roll around until well covered. Then use a small bit of j cloth [ sort of disposable paper cloth] on the end of a length of wire twisted to created a little reaming stick to clean it out and smooth around the bore. Works a treat!
# Posted on June 19th 2004 by breandan