Oiling a wooden Irish flute...

flappy · Post by **flappy** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 11:05 am

Hello all. I just want to know what kind of oil I can use to oil my Irish flute made in cocus wood (simple system in D). Thanks a lot for your answer.
Have a great 2007...

Gabriel · Post by **Gabriel** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 11:54 am

Normally, you can use almond oil or linseed oil. It's more or less a matter of your own preferences.

In case you use almond oil, pay attention to add some vitamin E to prevent it from getting rancid. That stinks.

But the best thing you can do about care questions anyway is asking your maker.

flappy · Post by **flappy** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 12:30 pm

Hi Gabriel. Thanks for your reaction.
Well I don't know the maker but I've some almond oil somewhere home. I'll try your tip about vitamin E (never heard before!).

johnkerr · Post by **johnkerr** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 2:42 pm

Gabriel wrote:But the best thing you can do about care questions anyway is asking your maker.

Okay. How's this?

Now I sit me down to toot
I thank the Lord I have a flute
But lest it crack amidst my toil
I ask the Lord: What kind of oil?

Bart Wijnen · Post by **Bart Wijnen** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 2:46 pm

johnkerr wrote:
Gabriel wrote:But the best thing you can do about care questions anyway is asking your maker.
Okay. How's this?

Now I sit me down to toot
I thank the Lord I have a flute
But lest it crack amidst my toil
I ask the Lord: What kind of oil?

flappy · Post by **flappy** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 3:47 pm

Nice rimes. It slips by itself

Gabriel · Post by **Gabriel** » Mon Jan 15, 2007 5:11 pm

Hah. You got me. Seems like I still have to polish my english skills.

talasiga · Post by **talasiga** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 9:27 pm

English has very little polish. Mostly Norman French and scholastic Latin/Greek overlay on Germanic roots with a variety of phonological influences including indigenous Celtic.

flappy · Post by **flappy** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 1:44 am

Hi talasiga. uuuuuh yes, you're probably right! But I don't see the connection with Irish flutes (except Celtic roots). BTW do you know if linseed oil has same stinky problem as almond oil after a while?

BillG · Post by **BillG** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 8:15 am

flappy wrote:BTW do you know if linseed oil has same stinky problem as almond oil after a while?

I've used Almond oil for over five years and never noticed any "stinky" problem. Perhaps because of the added vitamin E as a preservative.

BillG

flappy · Post by **flappy** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 8:50 am

Hi BillG. Thanks for your remark. I've used vitamin E not yet. I think I'm gonna try it shortly. In the meantime I've oiled my flute for the first time (not too much). That mixing wood-oil is rather nice-smelling...

Matt_Paris · Post by **Matt_Paris** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 9:20 am

I've never used Vitamin E, and never found my flutes stinky.

During a long time I believed it was due to the fact that americans had a more sensitive nose than french... And one day I got an oiled flute from eBay that came from America with a terrible rancid smell.

I still don't know if there is any difference between french and american almond oil, but I never experienced that smell with my own almond oil... I buy it in Paris in a very normal pharmacy.

flappy · Post by **flappy** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 9:34 am

I buy it too in my pharmacy 6 months ago ('Huile vierge', 56 mL - Gifrer). Anyway I must regularly oil my flute. After a while I'll notice any change with its smell I think... Otherwise do you mean that a french nose is different as an american one? Do you think it's a matter of culture?

Matt_Paris · Post by **Matt_Paris** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 9:45 am

I think there is no difference whatsoever

It's just a stupid joke about french stereotypes

Tommy · Post by **Tommy** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 10:19 am

I think there are two types of almond oil? Cosmetic, and food. The cosmetic does not become rancid.