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Wooden clarinet care: Oil or water?

I just bought my second wooden clarinet -- after a Buffet Bb suprano, I got a pride-and-joy Selmer Paris Bb bass clarinet. Thing is, after so many years of playing plastic junk in poverty, I'm paranoid about cracking.

The instructions specify, "Oil the bore to prevent moisture from entering the wood". The music store recommends keeping fruit skins (like orange peel) in the case during winter months to prevent them from drying out.

OK, that strikes me as idiotically contradicting. I'm supposed to protect the things from moisture and dryness at the same time? Just how forgiving are these things to humidity variations??

I know the basics -- swabbing the bore, tightening loose screws, checking pads, etc. -- but as we all know, a cracked bore is basically ruined. That's my main concern, and my experience with plastic clarinets hasn't prepared me for it.

Once and for all, how do I protect my precious wooden clarinets from cracking?

Thanks!

For the love of all things holy- PLEASE don't "pour and swish" ANYTHING in your clarinet- EVER!

Ok... first off, yes, they CAN crack. However, this usually happens from exposure to extreme temperature variation... like leaving your clarinet in the car during a snow storm, then blowing warm, moist air through it without allowing it to warm up first. Humidity can crack it, but again, only in the extremes... like it sits on a shelf for 10 years without being played or oiled.
So be conscientious, but no need to be paranoid.

As far as oiling it... I find that using a recorder swab (looks like an overglorified pipe cleaner) works really well for this. Just put a couple drops of oil on it, and run it through each section of the clarinet a couple times, giving a LIGHT, EVEN coat of oil. Since you play bass clarinet, you could try an alto sax "pad saver" for this purpose, instead of a recorder swab... the music store will know what you're talking about.

Now, there is a HUGE debate about which oil is best... some say bore oil, others say you can use vegetable or almond oil.
The argument is:
organic oil is better because wood's natural, and so is the oil. However, saliva has enzymes that break down organic material, so it actually deteriorates the wood.
Bore oil is petrol based and has preservative properties... but can build up and hinder the resonance over time.
Neither has been proven or disproven, despite tons of studies. I think it comes down to personal choice. I myself, am a bore oil kind of girl.

Anyways, how often you oil it depends on where you live, mostly. I used to live in Denver- and contrary to popular belief, it is very dry and arid there- very much like a desert, but with snow for 56 days a year. I oiled my clarinet about every 6 months.
Now, I live in Chicago... it is MUCH more humid here. When I play, my clarinet swells so badly that I can't always get it apart (yes I use cork grease). I have only oiled it once in the year and a half that I've been here- and that's all it needs.
If you want to check and see when you should oil yours, smear the tiniest drop on your finger, and just touch the inside of the bell. Let it sit for 24 hours... if it absorbed fully, you should oil the whole clarinet. If it's still glossy or oily, wait another 6 months.

And as for the orange peel thing... I was taught to do this too... in Colorado. It helps to regulate humidity in the case, and retain moisture. They should be replaced about once a month. However, unless you live somewhere like Arizona, New Mexico, etc., you can skip the orange peels.

And last, I hope you kept your plastic clarinet for Marching Band... you don't want to be dragging wood outside!

Anyways, congrats on the new wood, and have fun!

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Wooden clarinet care: Oil or water?

I just bought my second wooden clarinet -- after a Buffet Bb suprano, I got a pride-and-joy Selmer Paris Bb bass clarinet. Thing is, after so many years of playing plastic junk in poverty, I'm paranoid about cracking.

The instructions specify, "Oil the bore to prevent moisture from entering the wood". The music store recommends keeping fruit skins (like orange peel) in the case during winter months to prevent them from drying out.

OK, that strikes me as idiotically contradicting. I'm supposed to protect the things from moisture and dryness at the same time? Just how forgiving are these things to humidity variations??

I know the basics -- swabbing the bore, tightening loose screws, checking pads, etc. -- but as we all know, a cracked bore is basically ruined. That's my main concern, and my experience with plastic clarinets hasn't prepared me for it.

Once and for all, how do I protect my precious wooden clarinets from cracking?

Thanks!

For the love of all things holy- PLEASE don't "pour and swish" ANYTHING in your clarinet- EVER!

Ok... first off, yes, they CAN crack. However, this usually happens from exposure to extreme temperature variation... like leaving your clarinet in the car during a snow storm, then blowing warm, moist air through it without allowing it to warm up first. Humidity can crack it, but again, only in the extremes... like it sits on a shelf for 10 years without being played or oiled.
So be conscientious, but no need to be paranoid.

As far as oiling it... I find that using a recorder swab (looks like an overglorified pipe cleaner) works really well for this. Just put a couple drops of oil on it, and run it through each section of the clarinet a couple times, giving a LIGHT, EVEN coat of oil. Since you play bass clarinet, you could try an alto sax "pad saver" for this purpose, instead of a recorder swab... the music store will know what you're talking about.

Now, there is a HUGE debate about which oil is best... some say bore oil, others say you can use vegetable or almond oil.
The argument is:
organic oil is better because wood's natural, and so is the oil. However, saliva has enzymes that break down organic material, so it actually deteriorates the wood.
Bore oil is petrol based and has preservative properties... but can build up and hinder the resonance over time.
Neither has been proven or disproven, despite tons of studies. I think it comes down to personal choice. I myself, am a bore oil kind of girl.

Anyways, how often you oil it depends on where you live, mostly. I used to live in Denver- and contrary to popular belief, it is very dry and arid there- very much like a desert, but with snow for 56 days a year. I oiled my clarinet about every 6 months.
Now, I live in Chicago... it is MUCH more humid here. When I play, my clarinet swells so badly that I can't always get it apart (yes I use cork grease). I have only oiled it once in the year and a half that I've been here- and that's all it needs.
If you want to check and see when you should oil yours, smear the tiniest drop on your finger, and just touch the inside of the bell. Let it sit for 24 hours... if it absorbed fully, you should oil the whole clarinet. If it's still glossy or oily, wait another 6 months.

And as for the orange peel thing... I was taught to do this too... in Colorado. It helps to regulate humidity in the case, and retain moisture. They should be replaced about once a month. However, unless you live somewhere like Arizona, New Mexico, etc., you can skip the orange peels.

And last, I hope you kept your plastic clarinet for marching band... you don't want to be dragging wood outside!

Anyways, congrats on the new wood, and have fun!

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