Woodwind Instrument Care

Wooden Flute Maintenance

This is PREVENTATIVE maintenance - cracks in flutes occur because simple precautions are not taken. So please take note of these points, which are collated from advice given by Williams, Ormiston and other experienced woodwind manufacturers:-

1. Always take the flute apart after playing. This allows the moisture to dry out better without getting into the wood. Store it away from extremes of temperature, and keep it wrapped in a cloth or in a case, so it can adjust gradually to climate changes.
2. Before assembling a new flute, grease the cork tenons with vaseline or cork grease. This will aid assembly and make the joints perfectly airtight. You should take great care at all times when assembling the flute, the joints should be brought together with a twisting motion and not pushed straight on.
3. Occasionally when the flute is dry - i.e before playing (it needs to be left a full day since it was last played), push through the wooden sections a cotton rag dampened with ALMOND OIL (from a chemist). This prevents moisture getting into the wood. You can also rub a little oil into the outside of the flute. The bore needs oiling once a week for a couple of months when the flute is new, then monthly, and finally after the first year, and for older flutes, six monthly will be often enough.
4. After playing remove excess moisture from the bore with a dry cotton rag on a pull through, or with a loose fitting flute mop. This prevents localised wet patches.
5. For the first month play only 1/2 hour at a practise session. Playing time can be gradually increased after this. This allows the wood to gradually acclimatize to the moisture.
6. If the joints are loose then wind on a little cotton evenly along the length of the joint. Pull the cotton through a piece of beeswax to wax the thread first.
7. If the joints become stiff and dry don't force them together. Rub on a little joint grease (from a music shop). Vaseline is O.K. but needs renewing frequently. If the joints are cork lapped, remove any grease from the tenon, and gently sand it with 200/400 grade abrasive paper until it is a smooth fit.

Climate Problems