3 Steps to Oiling an Irish Flute
Oiling a wooden Irish flute is an important part of the instrument's care and upkeep. Wood can swell or shrink depending on varying levels of heat and humidity, and oiling a flute keeps the wood pliable and more able to weather any changes in climate. Well-oiled flutes also react better to the heat and humidity introduced by our breath when they are played. They sound richer, more resonant, and are more responsive.
The frequency with which you need to oil your flute will depend on the climate where you live and how often you are playing the instrument. Some musicians aim to oil their flute once a month, while others can get away with oiling less often. It may also be necessary to oil more often during certain times of the year (dry winters) and less during others (rainy summers).
A good rule of thumb is to pay attention to the instrument's wood grain. If the grain is starting to open and become more visible, your flute is starting to get thirsty. You may also be able to hear it in your sound: if a flute feels less resonant and has a dryer, thinner sound, it might need some oil.
For new Irish flute owners, particularly those who have always played a metal Boehm flute, oiling a wooden flute will be a new step in their instrument care and maintenance routine. Fortunately, oiling an Irish flute can be completed in just a few steps and is well worth the time it takes. Repeating this process once a month (or whenever your flute looks or sounds dry) is one of the best things you can do for your flute—and for your own playing as well.
You Will Need:
Paper Towels
Q-tips
A Wooden Cleaning Rod
Organic Almond Oil or Bore Oil
If your flute has keys, also grab:
A Plastic Bag or Saran Wrap
Scissors
Time:
Preparation: 5-10 minutes
Oiling: 5 minutes
Resting: 4-8 hours
A brief footnote on almond oil:
Almond oil does have the potential to go rancid, which can occur when it reacts with the air in a process called oxidation. I always use an organic sweet almond oil with Vitamin E, which slows this reaction. I also spoke to a chemist recently, who confirmed the following details:
Excess oil left on the surface of your flute after oiling is where rancidity can occur. Always wipe off residual oil the next day.
Non-rancid oil will feel slick. Rancid oil will feel gummy. If the residual oil on your flute feels gummy or tacky, wipe it off with paper towels.
Keep tabs on your cleaning cloth. If it feels gummy or tacky, throw it out and find yourself a new one.
Step One: Preparation
Set aside a time when you'll be able to leave your newly oiled flute unplayed for at least a few hours. Oiling in the evening is an ideal time as it allows the flute to rest overnight.
Spread some paper towels on your work surface. Use another paper towel to gently wipe any built-up cork grease off the tenon joints (the joints where the flute fits together). Use a Q-tip to swab any buildup from the insides of the finger holes and tone hole.
If your flute is keyed, place a small piece of Saran wrap or plastic bag under the pads of each key. This will prevent oil from gumming up your key pads.
Step Two: Oiling
Once your flute is prepared, dip a paper towel into your chosen oil. Wipe down the outside of the flute, avoiding the cork or threads on your tenon joints, any metal rings, and the keys and keypads (if you have them).
Fold a small rectangle of paper towel into a size that will slot through your cleaning rod. Make sure the paper towel is small enough to fit through your foot joint, which is the narrowest part of an Irish flute.
Soak the paper towel in oil, fit it into the cleaning rod, and push or pull the rod and paper towel through each section, twisting as you go. You may need to repeat this process a few times to ensure you coat the inside of the flute evenly. (If you have a metal-lined headjoint, do not oil the metal lining.) If you’d like to dip a clean Q-tip in oil and use it to make sure the insides of the tone and finger holes are also coated evenly, you can do that now as well.
Step Three: Resting
Leave your flute resting on paper towels for at least a few hours (or better yet, overnight), making sure it is in a safe place where it won't be disturbed. This will allow the oil to soak into the flute.
Once rested, use paper towels to gently wipe any extra oil off the inside and outside of the instrument (especially if using almond oil), reassemble, and enjoy the new richness and responsiveness of your flute!
For more information about Irish flute care and maintenance, check out my Irish flute method book, Playing Outside the Lines, Volume I, now available from Mel Bay Publications.