Oboe maintenance: wood oil and humidifier
Grenadilla wood is constantly in contact with moisture from the inside and dry air from the outside. Keeping that balance means keeping your oboe in good condition. Wood oil and a humidifier are the two most effective tools — but only if you know how and when to use them.
What oboe oil does — and what it doesn't
Wood oil is often described as "nourishment for the wood". That is not correct. Grenadilla (Dalbergia melanoxylon) is one of the densest types of wood in the world and needs no nourishment. What wood oil does do is cover the pores on the inside of the bore with a thin film. That film slows down how quickly condensation seeps into the wood during playing.
The result is not that the wood stays dry — that is impossible. The moisture absorption does become more gradual. And that is precisely what prevents cracking. Tension in wood is not caused by moisture, but by the difference in moisture content between the inside and outside.
Always make sure the bore is thoroughly dry before applying oil. Then place a few drops on a swab and work the inside gently with a light coat. Leave it to soak in overnight before playing again.
Too much wood oil is counterproductive. The wood becomes saturated, the bore starts to stick and the pads can come loose. The tone also becomes duller — and that cannot be reversed. Less is consistently better.
How and when to oil your oboe
During the first three months, we recommend oiling the instrument approximately once a week. After that, gradually reduce to once every two months until halfway through the first year. From the second year onwards, one to two times per year is sufficient.
With a second-hand instrument, this varies per oboe. How old is it? How has it been maintained? How dry is the wood at this point? A new owner is advised to have the instrument checked by a specialist first. They can assess on the spot how much oil the instrument needs and how best to proceed.
Never apply oil in or around the tone holes — this damages the pads and can cause leaks over time.
Too much oil is not harmless. The wood becomes saturated, the tone becomes noticeably duller and in serious cases pads come loose. Oiling regularly but sparingly keeps absorption under control.
Wood oil and humidifiers for oboe
Which oil to use?
Only use wood oil specifically developed for woodwind instruments. Sweet almond oil is most suitable: it penetrates well without damaging the wood structure. At Adams we stock the Mancke almond oil, suitable for oboes, flutes and headjoints. Avoid cooking oils, machine oil or other substitutes.
Always oil the inside of the bore, never the outside.
Humidifiers
Central heating reduces the humidity in an average home to 20 to 30 percent in winter. Grenadilla wood performs best at a humidity level between 45 and 55 percent. Below 40 percent it becomes critical, the wood shrinks visibly and the risk of cracking increases rapidly. A humidifier in the case keeps the environment around the instrument stable, even when the instrument is stored for hours or days.
That is when a humidifier does its most important work. Not during playing, but during the long hours the instrument is stored in a dry room.
From autumn to early spring
Once the heating comes on, humidity levels drop quickly. Place the Boveda humidity pack in the case as standard from autumn to early spring. Also watch out for air conditioning in summer: an air conditioner dries the air just as effectively as central heating and poses an equally serious threat to the instrument.
The Boveda can stay in the case all year round. Check it regularly and replace it when the pack feels hard.