How to Oil a Concert Flute
Like all woodwind instruments, wood flutes require regular oiling to keep them supple and moisture-resistant. Without regular oiling, a flute’s wood will become brittle and more likely to crack. Serious flute players should oil a new instrument once a week during the first month of breaking it in, then every month for a year, and once a year after that.
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Things You'll Need
- Plastic wrap or aluminum foil
- Flute cleaning cloths
- Commercial bore oil
- Cleaning rod
- Plastic sealable bag
Instructions
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1
Remove the instrument’s tuning slides and stopper. If you are comfortable removing the keys, do so to prevent clogging them with oil. If you don’t want to remove the keys, carefully place plastic wrap or aluminum foil under and around them. Allow the flute’s bore to dry out thoroughly before oiling it.
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2
Soak a cleaning cloth in bore oil to saturate it.
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3
Attach the oiled cloth to the cleaning rod. Apply a few drops of bore oil into the flute’s bore and distribute it evenly with the oiled cloth. The bore should look moist, but not excessively slick with oil.
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4
Place the oiled cloth in a plastic sealable bag for future use.
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5
Attach a clean cloth to the cleaning rod and run it through the flute’s bore to remove excess oil. Wipe any additional oil from the body of the flute.
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6
Reassemble the flute with clean hands and wait 24 hours before playing again.
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Tips & Warnings
Do not use vegetable oils or almond oil on the flute, as they may become rancid.
Do not use scented oils on the flute, as they will void your warranty and may be irritating to others.
References
Resources
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