Good luck with the start of a new marching season!
Here are a few tips for keeping your flute up and running for another season.
O.K. here we go. Oiling your flute
Apply oil sparingly to the flute is a simple process, here is what you need:
Everything you need to oil your flute
- Key oil from a manufacturer. Some flutes have oil’s that will not mix with other lubricants. Check the manufacturers web site. For my flutes, I use synthetic motor oil.
- A clarinet reed cut in half along the length . Use a sturdy pair of scissors, toe nail clippers..yuk! or wire cutter’s
- A small supply of cotton swab’s
- Small cup for the oil. You will be dipping tip of the reed in the oil.
Method
Place your flute is on a table with a towel underneath.
Locate all of the key posts, they are the little “balls” that are attached to the body (rib).
Apply oil @ the posts
Take a piece of your broken reed and dip the very tip of the reed in your oil. Try this a few times to get the “feel” for how much oil
will “stick” to the reed. To much oil will attract dirt and “fuzzers”
Applying the oil
Take the reed loaded with the oil and ever so gently touch the space between the post and the key or hinge rod. The oil will transfer to the empty space.
Applying oil with the reed
If your flute mechanism, “sucks” back the oil add a bit more; start pressing the key like a “trill” this will allow the oil to enter the hinge tube.
Have a cotton swab ready to absorb any extra oil that does not find a home.
Be proactive
The advantage to having your flute oiled before you go out into the humid weather or even worse the rain; is that the oil is occupying the empty spots in your mechanism, the water will have a difficult time entering – remember water and oil DON’T mix.
Good luck with your marching season and look for my next tip soon!
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