Almond Oil For Wooden Flutes

This is so the flute doesn t go dry because your tone won t be so great if it does.

Almond oil for wooden flutes.

Playing in a new wooden flute. These are typically flutes where the maker has not applied a finish to the inside of the flute. The oil protects the wood from rapid changes in humidity that could stress or crack the flute. I picked up some argan oil from a cooperative in morroco this summer with the possible intention of using it in place of almond oil to keep wooden flutes lubricated.

Argan oil for wooden flute. Other bore oils on the market can contain petroleum distillates and or dyes none of which is necessary nor desired for oiling the wood of your premium instrument. Some time ago i inquired amongst several people as to the best oil for my flute. It is generally recommended that wooden flutes be played in gently when new.

Beyond that there were various suggestions to use almond oil raw linseed oil and olive oil. The residue left on your flute after oiling isn t toxic and it s safe to use. A wooden flute can be cleaned externally using almond oil and then wiping it dry. Boiled linseed oil will gum up the bore of your flute and may permanently ruin its tone.

A wooden flute should be oiled to protect it from cracking and to improve the tone and repsonsiveness of the flute. When not in use disassemble the flute to take pressure off the tenon s. Linseed oil is commonly used on wooden flutes. For flutes where the bore is oiled the trick is finding the right oil.

Cotton wool buds q tips are excellent for cleaning embouchure and tone holes. About wooden flute care. Another flute player peter heinlein recommends buying cosmetic grade almond oil rather than food grade which tends to oxidize faster and may gum up the bore of the flute. Almond oil is the preferred oil for oiling the bore of wood clarinets oboes piccolos.

It seems to have quite a similar composition of unsaturated oils to that of almond oil. Don t put oil on the cloth everytime. The one loud concensus is not to use boiled linseed oil. Some like almond oil which must be applied with great frequency others like cold pressed raw linseed oil which is applied sparingly and much less often.

Some flutes are designed to have oil applied to the bore at regular intervals. I happen to be a chemist and an occasional woodworker though definitly not a hallowed flute make. There is some controversy as to what kind of oil is best. It is also good to remove any built up cork grease from tenons and sockets occasionally.

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. If you use it be very careful to use raw linseed oil not boiled. Natural unscented. Linseed oil is made from flax.