Wood clarinets need bore oil

Wood, as a living material, is very susceptible to changes in temperature and humidity. With heat, wood expands and when it gets colder, the reverse happens.

In low humidity environments like Melbourne the wood can dry out. In hot and humid areas like Brisbane, parts of your clarinet may swell a little if it is subjected to a lot of humidity. A lot of regular playing, where the airflow is constantly passing over and through the wood will also draw the moisture out of it. The problem with a dry instrument is that the chance of the wood cracking is greatly increased and once a crack has formed, while repairable, the instrument will most likely never play the same again.

Simply then ... oiling will help prevent cracks occurring by replacing the moisture that has been lost from the wood.

So where do you put the oil? ... For the first time you will need to soak a pull-through (cotton or flannelette are best) in bore oil or almond oil. Once the pull through has absorbed enough oil, pull it through each piece of the instrument. Next, lightly wipe down the outside. We find it easiest to store the pull-through in a zip-lock plastic bag to prevent it from contamination by dust etc.. Next time the pull-through will only require a couple of drops of oil.

How often should I oil the bore and outside of my instrument? ... It really depends on the environment the instrument lives in and how much playing time you get to do. Basically, if it looks dry and feels like it has no "silkyness" on the surfaces. Also, the tenon (the joining part at the ends of each joint) may turn a lighter brown (see photo) - give the instrument an oiling A general guide would be every 2 - 3 months or 50 - 60 hours of playing - don't overdo it though - get the balance right and your instrument will last you a long, long time.