Almond Oil For Wooden Flutes

Playing in a new wooden flute.

Almond oil for wooden flutes.

Some time ago i inquired amongst several people as to the best oil for my flute. Don t put oil on the cloth everytime. Almond oil is the preferred oil for oiling the bore of wood clarinets oboes piccolos. This is so the flute doesn t go dry because your tone won t be so great if it does.

I happen to be a chemist and an occasional woodworker though definitly not a hallowed flute make. It is also good to remove any built up cork grease from tenons and sockets occasionally. These are typically flutes where the maker has not applied a finish to the inside of the flute. Linseed oil is commonly used on wooden flutes.

A wooden flute should be oiled to protect it from cracking and to improve the tone and repsonsiveness of the flute. The residue left on your flute after oiling isn t toxic and it s safe to use. 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. Natural unscented.

When not in use disassemble the flute to take pressure off the tenon s. Boiled linseed oil will gum up the bore of your flute and may permanently ruin its tone. Beyond that there were various suggestions to use almond oil raw linseed oil and olive oil. Argan oil for wooden flute.

It is generally recommended that wooden flutes be played in gently when new. 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. 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 by far the most frequently used although i know of players who use walnut oil people with nut allergies beware and even olive oil smells a bit.

The best repair shops in the world and artists trust a simple natural almond oil for their instruments. Linseed oil is made from flax. The one loud concensus is not to use boiled linseed oil. Some flutes are designed to have oil applied to the bore at regular intervals.

For flutes where the bore is oiled the trick is finding the right oil. 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. Cotton wool buds q tips are excellent for cleaning embouchure and tone holes. About wooden flute care.

If you use it be very careful to use raw linseed oil not boiled. These oils are not harmful if used as often as every time you play as the residue is mopped out when you dry your 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. The oil protects the wood from rapid changes in humidity that could stress or crack the flute.