And before you say anything - the one and only Michael Lowenstern pointed out that for my second point, the header still read “#1” 😂 He’ll never stop being my teacher… ❤
Hi Philip, your channel is great. I am both clarinettist and woodwind technician, I agree with you. Once, a Backun's artist said to me that doesn't need oiling wooden instrument while I was talking about oiling on wooden instrument to a fellow musician (a piccolo player with a wooden piccolo. I don't want to argue/discuss with him in front of other musicians and also because I felt he has very strong opinion on this matter and wouldn't taking on other's opinion. Recently, I was chatting to a friend who is a flutist, while she was visiting Japan, she gave her wooden piccolo for service by a flute specialist and maker, due to the limited days she stayed in Japan, the Japanese master had to wrap up the piccolo (head-joint) in cling film when still have lots of oil on it and instructed her to unwrap the head-joint when she was back home and let the oil absorb the oil naturally for one/two days then wipe off the excess. Afterward, my friend found out the piccolo tone become warmer.
Hi Ada, thanks for the comment! I’m glad someone who knows what they’re talking about agrees with me :) And yes, the Japanese master was (of course) correct - the wood will soak in SOME of the oil… just not enough for us to see. I think the important part is that we must use enough for the oil to polymerize or cure and then wipe off excess. Thanks again!
I live in the northern hemisphere (Canada) and my music room has a wood burning stove, so hey I should probably think about oiling my clarinets. Good explanation and rationale provided. Thanks.
Thanks Phillip for immortalising me as a pedant! 😂 I oiled my clarinet only last week! I had recently changed strings on a guitar and lemon-oiled its fretboard, and it made me think about my clarinet. Its wood was looking dry and thirsty so I ignored the advice of my repair tech (who thinks grenadilla is too dense to take on oil). I'm glad your vid supported my decision to oil 😊
Haha! Thanks Kieryn! I’ve never thought to use lemon oil… I know some woodturners who use orange oil, but there’s talk out there that it goes rancid after some years. I might try lemon oil - sounds delicious! And yes - grenadilla is too dense to take on oil… but that’s not what we’re trying to do!! Thanks for the comment :)
Lemon oil seems to be the guitarist go to - possibly to remove natural oils the fingers leave behind. So perhaps a slightly different purpose. I stuck to "bore oil" for my clarinet this time.
Heck I thought oiling was about oiling the hinges of the keys (my clarinet was plastic) because I DID have an issue with a key not bouncing up properly 😂 Later the technician revealed it was one screw being tightened (over normal use) too much. As it is a maintenance video here, I wanna know if there'll be any videos about maintenance of mechanical parts (the keys specifically)?
Well, you’re right! Oiling key work is also necessary, and, yes… you can do it wrong too! I will absolutely make a video about my approach to general maintenance. I don’t know when it will be - so feel free to reach out via email and I can answer any questions you have :) Thanks for watching!
Most of the accessory companies sell “bore oil” which (as far as I know) is just mineral oil or paraffin. You can also use refined almond oil - probably even avocado oil. Basically anything that is very thin and won’t go rancid
@@emjay2045 I mentioned Linseed oil in the video because I was telling a story about my grandfather finishing an axe handle. For clarinets linseed oil is too thick and sticky. Hope that helps!
And before you say anything - the one and only Michael Lowenstern pointed out that for my second point, the header still read “#1” 😂
He’ll never stop being my teacher… ❤
Hi Philip, your channel is great. I am both clarinettist and woodwind technician, I agree with you. Once, a Backun's artist said to me that doesn't need oiling wooden instrument while I was talking about oiling on wooden instrument to a fellow musician (a piccolo player with a wooden piccolo. I don't want to argue/discuss with him in front of other musicians and also because I felt he has very strong opinion on this matter and wouldn't taking on other's opinion.
Recently, I was chatting to a friend who is a flutist, while she was visiting Japan, she gave her wooden piccolo for service by a flute specialist and maker, due to the limited days she stayed in Japan, the Japanese master had to wrap up the piccolo (head-joint) in cling film when still have lots of oil on it and instructed her to unwrap the head-joint when she was back home and let the oil absorb the oil naturally for one/two days then wipe off the excess. Afterward, my friend found out the piccolo tone become warmer.
Hi Ada, thanks for the comment! I’m glad someone who knows what they’re talking about agrees with me :)
And yes, the Japanese master was (of course) correct - the wood will soak in SOME of the oil… just not enough for us to see. I think the important part is that we must use enough for the oil to polymerize or cure and then wipe off excess.
Thanks again!
I want to see michael lowenstern in concert new york city this year!
Michael lowenstern is my favorite bass clarinet and composer in Brooklyn!
Absolutely - he’s fantastic!
I live in the northern hemisphere (Canada) and my music room has a wood burning stove, so hey I should probably think about oiling my clarinets. Good explanation and rationale provided. Thanks.
You’re welcome - and thanks for watching! I would say, for your specific use-case, that yes, oiling would be a good idea :)
I came here to put up fists on behalf of Lowenstern. But now I get your argument. Loved the pic of you and Mike too. Very appropriate.
Hehehe thank you! Yes I absolutely hoped it would get people riled up. We love Mike!
Thanks Phillip for immortalising me as a pedant! 😂
I oiled my clarinet only last week! I had recently changed strings on a guitar and lemon-oiled its fretboard, and it made me think about my clarinet. Its wood was looking dry and thirsty so I ignored the advice of my repair tech (who thinks grenadilla is too dense to take on oil). I'm glad your vid supported my decision to oil 😊
Haha! Thanks Kieryn! I’ve never thought to use lemon oil… I know some woodturners who use orange oil, but there’s talk out there that it goes rancid after some years. I might try lemon oil - sounds delicious!
And yes - grenadilla is too dense to take on oil… but that’s not what we’re trying to do!!
Thanks for the comment :)
Lemon oil seems to be the guitarist go to - possibly to remove natural oils the fingers leave behind. So perhaps a slightly different purpose. I stuck to "bore oil" for my clarinet this time.
This is fantastic content!
I have always heard almond oil is the best. Is that what you would recommend using?
I used almond oil for years. These days I use mineral/parrafin - but anything that is thin and won’t get gummy is fine :) thanks for the comment!!
Heck I thought oiling was about oiling the hinges of the keys (my clarinet was plastic) because I DID have an issue with a key not bouncing up properly 😂
Later the technician revealed it was one screw being tightened (over normal use) too much. As it is a maintenance video here, I wanna know if there'll be any videos about maintenance of mechanical parts (the keys specifically)?
Well, you’re right! Oiling key work is also necessary, and, yes… you can do it wrong too!
I will absolutely make a video about my approach to general maintenance. I don’t know when it will be - so feel free to reach out via email and I can answer any questions you have :)
Thanks for watching!
The caps lock was a perfect way to sell that skit. 😂
Hehehe thank you! It’s the little things…
What kind of oil? Special for instruments?
Most of the accessory companies sell “bore oil” which (as far as I know) is just mineral oil or paraffin. You can also use refined almond oil - probably even avocado oil. Basically anything that is very thin and won’t go rancid
@@philipeverall6 thanks!
@@philipeverall6well, since you mentioned Linseed Oil in the vid why didn’t you respond just now with it ? ?? ??? ???? 🧐
@@emjay2045 I mentioned Linseed oil in the video because I was telling a story about my grandfather finishing an axe handle. For clarinets linseed oil is too thick and sticky. Hope that helps!