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#1 2010-11-07 21:36:10

Todd Frederick
Member
From: Dos Palos CA USA
Registered: 2009-08-29
Posts: 70

Finishing and protecting outside of flute

I have a nice bamboo shakuhachi that is in it's natural color and has no external finishing. Is there something that can be used to condition the wood, protect it from craking and such?

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#2 2010-11-07 23:48:30

Karmajampa
Member
From: Aotearoa (NZ)
Registered: 2006-02-12
Posts: 574
Website

Re: Finishing and protecting outside of flute

I have heard that over time a lovely patina can develop from applying the facial oils frrom beside your nose.

Binding is probably the thing to do to hold back cracking.

I am pretty simple in that I don't bind unless I have a good reason, like a fine crack is beginning to show, and I use only walnut oil, mainly as an internal application but I give the skin a 24-hour ssoak before wiping it off again leaving a thin coat, I find the skin is very non-porous and absorbs next to no oil or water.

I like walnut oil, it has an earthy aroma and does not go rancid. It contains no accelerators and takes up to three months to harden right off. After I apply the oil I restrain myself from blowing for a week, at least long periods where breath moisture builds over the oil.

Kel.


Kia Kaha !

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#3 2010-11-08 07:09:53

Rick Riekert
Member
Registered: 2008-03-13
Posts: 100

Re: Finishing and protecting outside of flute

Todd, you'll find some helpful information here:

http://www.navaching.com/shaku/oil.html


Mastery does not lay in the mastery of technique, but in penetrating the heart of the music. However, he who has not mastered the technique will not penetrate the heart of the music.
~ Hisamatsu Fûyô

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#4 2010-11-08 10:18:01

Yungflutes
Flutemaker/Performer
From: New York City
Registered: 2005-10-08
Posts: 1061
Website

Re: Finishing and protecting outside of flute

Todd Frederick wrote:

I have a nice bamboo shakuhachi that is in it's natural color and has no external finishing. Is there something that can be used to condition the wood, protect it from cracking and such?

Although oiling a flute is a nice ritual, binding and/or proper storage in an air tight container is the best preventative measure against cracking.

http://www.yungflutes.com/logphotos/shugetsucrk.jpg

A flute I'm working on today.
Best, Perry


"A hot dog is not an animal." - Jet Yung

My Blog/Website on the art of shakuhachi...and parenting.
How to make an Urban Shakuhachi (PVC)

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#5 2010-11-08 16:33:09

Karmajampa
Member
From: Aotearoa (NZ)
Registered: 2006-02-12
Posts: 574
Website

Re: Finishing and protecting outside of flute

I should qualify my reply in that I only apply walnut oil to the 'Black Bamboo' I am using, I am not applying anything to the 'Madake' which at this point in my flute making, I don't feel requires oil.

It would be interesting to do the 'boiling in oil' preparation.

K.


Kia Kaha !

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#6 2010-11-10 23:07:30

mrwuwu
Member
From: Chicago, Illinois
Registered: 2007-11-23
Posts: 160

Re: Finishing and protecting outside of flute

Hi,   Todd,       I have been taught by my teacher to occasionally rub into my flute sparingly with tea tree oil.   He recommends the type sold by Japan Woodworkers, here in the US.   It is a fine oil used to prevent the rusting of expensive handmade Japanese woodworking tools and swords and rightly enough, to condition the outer skin of bamboo.  And it also prevents mold.     It gives the flute  a slightly darker patina over time and a beautiful luster.   I have looked on the Internet for  tea tree oil and there are ten million kinds, and most look suspiciously cheap for cosmetic use on the face.        At summer camp Michael Chikuzen Gould recommends carrying a small towel damped with tea tree oil in a zip loc bag in your carry bag , and wiping down the flute when needed to keep it conditioned.       Almost everyone in camp needed to use it,  what a dry group! smile      My main lesson flute seems to get dry looking everyday , overnight near the root end.         The upper 2/3 stays luscious.    So I am assuming the upper end has enough oil penetrating and the bottom end I will keep applying til it matches the rest of the flute.    If the oil was coming off onto the plastic inner bag liner,   then the oil would be gone from the upper 2/3rds every night, too,   but not so.        Lately , another thing I am happy with is oiling the flute before practice,  and working the oil in during playing.    My hands are shot and cracked and dry from over exposure to solvents, hard manual labor,  painting rooms, and too much handwashing.   Instead of using hand lotion for more than a year,  I find the tea tree oil less slippery, gives a better feel of sealing off the flute holes,  and my hands feel much better after practice,  rather than that lotion BP oil slick feeling.    Good luck,  you will really like the stuff,  and can preserve your tools and knife collection, too!           I believe Moran DuChump has been religiously using the oil on his tool every weekend due to his lack of maintenance.


" You know, it's been three years now, maybe a new teacher can help you? ...... " Sensei

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#7 2010-11-11 05:53:34

edosan
Edomologist
From: Salt Lake City
Registered: 2005-10-09
Posts: 2185

Re: Finishing and protecting outside of flute

fouw wrote:

These two products are very different.

Just so. Do NOT use Tea Tree Oil on your shakuhachi.

Camellia oil can be obtained at a reasonable price from some vendors on eBay.

Viz: http://cgi.ebay.com/CAMELLIA-OIL-100-PU … 483893df86


Zen is not easy.
It takes effort to attain nothingness.
And then what do you have?
Bupkes.

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#8 2010-11-11 06:51:40

Musgo da Pedra
Member
From: South of Brazil
Registered: 2007-12-02
Posts: 332
Website

Re: Finishing and protecting outside of flute

You can also findo good quality Camelia Oil here: http://www.mehr-als-werkzeug.de/page/ho … detail.jsf

They have the japanese and the chinese quality... prices are good...


Omnia mea mecum porto

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#9 2010-11-11 14:30:32

edosan
Edomologist
From: Salt Lake City
Registered: 2005-10-09
Posts: 2185

Re: Finishing and protecting outside of flute

Musgo da Pedra wrote:

You can also findo good quality Camelia Oil here: http://www.mehr-als-werkzeug.de/page/ho … detail.jsf

They have the japanese and the chinese quality... prices are good...

Here's the actual link for the oil page. Bear in mind that the source is in Germany, so there's postage (and perhaps customs) to deal with.

      http://www.mehr-als-werkzeug.de/product … detail.jsf

USA folks should stick with eBay, methinks.


Zen is not easy.
It takes effort to attain nothingness.
And then what do you have?
Bupkes.

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#10 2010-11-11 19:08:13

rpowers
Member
From: San Francisco
Registered: 2005-10-09
Posts: 285

Re: Finishing and protecting outside of flute

edosan wrote:

USA folks should stick with eBay, methinks.

This worked for me, and you will likely only need to order once in your life:

http://www.highlandwoodworking.com/came … 100ml.aspx

Last edited by rpowers (2010-11-11 19:08:36)


"Shut up 'n' play . . . " -- Frank Zappa
"Gonna blow some . . ." -- Junior Walker
"It's not the flute." -- Riley Lee

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#11 2010-11-12 12:14:29

Tono
Member
Registered: 2007-09-28
Posts: 43

Re: Finishing and protecting outside of flute

Camellia oil through Hedy's at Ebay worked for me, too, Ed.   I'm on my third bottle, and it makes for a good face moisturizer and pre-shave lotion, too.

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#12 2010-11-13 19:07:46

Itamar Foguel
Member
From: Israel
Registered: 2009-09-13
Posts: 120
Website

Re: Finishing and protecting outside of flute

and i thought tung oil is the best oil sealer around...

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#13 2010-11-14 22:08:21

mrwuwu
Member
From: Chicago, Illinois
Registered: 2007-11-23
Posts: 160

Re: Finishing and protecting outside of flute

Hi, Itamar,    remember we are only talking about tea oil as a finish or cosmetic treatment ,  not as a sealer.     The tea oil will not seal a flute, inside or out.


" You know, it's been three years now, maybe a new teacher can help you? ...... " Sensei

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#14 2010-11-18 18:42:02

Todd Frederick
Member
From: Dos Palos CA USA
Registered: 2009-08-29
Posts: 70

Re: Finishing and protecting outside of flute

Tea Tree Oil is also widely used as an antibacterial treatment. Health food stores sometimes have it. Where can one find the industrial variety, if different from the medicinal?  Thanks for the links on the Camelia Oil.

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