Care for wood piece??

[Nefertiti]

I have a wood Lebayle Jazz 8 that is working out really well for me. Anyone have any tips about taking care of it? Anyone ever have a wood mouthpiece that you had problems with? I take it off the neck after every gig every gig and wipe it dry. Anything else I should be aware of?? Thanks

[Subtone Sam]

Wood pieces need some oiling,there is a special oil for that purpose,the one I used on a wood Ponzol was Dr.Kyser's lemon oil.The problem with wood pieces is that since wood is not stable material,it changes its shape and sooner or later the table and facing need some work.

[SteveZ]

i had a lebayle wood for a while. The main thing is just to keep it dry (other than while playing, of course). I don't think you have to oil it very often--maybe once or twice a year. You might ask mr. Lebayle himself--he sometimes visits this forum.

[Frank D]

I'd guess that the oil used to oil the bores of wooden clarinets would be ok, and easy to come by through most woodwind shops.

[madav]

I wonder if it is really best that wood mouthpieces stay dry - it seems to me that most problems associated with wood in general are the continual getting wet and then drying out ncycle? - besides that the amount of moisture absorbed is minimal at best with this type of wood?

has anyone actually experienced this problem of warping?

[Safesax]

As an old clarinet player, I would comment that you only oil the inside of the clarinet to protect it, and proper oiling prevents cracking and other moisture problems. Since most moisture occurs as condensation inside the mouthpiece, my take is that as long as the inside of the mouthpiece remains adequately oiled, there should be no problem. But I've been wrong before... :wink:

Dale C

[Markus]

This is what Fred Lebayle wrote me for taking care of my mpc:

About the care of the mpc, you have only to put twice or three times per
year a little bit of line oil or olive oil.
The most important thing that you have to do and that is going to keep the
live of your wood mpc is drying it very good after everytime that you play,
that's is the most important thing to keep in mind.


Markus

[madav]

OK - thanks Markus, I guess he should know what he's talking about....!!!

[danielrorke]

i just got fred lamberson to make me a wood peice
i get it tomorrow hooray!!!
he has some interesting raves on his site about wood and caring for it
http://www.lambersonmouthpieces.com/

[txsphere]

OK first I will admit I have been considering a 12 step program if I don't find a mouthpiece I'm happy with soon. And I know yall know what I'm talking about.

I have been considering a wood piece just because as an old clarinet player I like wood, but the threat of cracking and what not concerned me. Still have not decided to go wood but I thought I would share my experience since I have known the horror of having 2 different clarinets crack on me.

Oiling the sweet almond oil is generally a must inside and out. (The tip goes in your mouth therefore that needs to be oiled.) A flute player I know who plays a wood Powell told me she puts one cup almond oil and three cups water in a jar and shakes it till the oil starts breaking up (not disolving mind you). Then after letting the jar sit a few days she skims part of the oil off the top to oil her flute with. I'm not sure what this accomplishes I have normally used almond oil straight.

The first and formost rule of wood is it contracts and expands with the temperature. So don't put your wood mouthpiece on the neck while it is cold. Forcing it over the brass could make it go a head and split just from the pressure of the neck in the bore. Also playing the cold piece will make for a very quick change in temperature of the mouthpiece resulting in your got it, a crack. I can't explain the chemistry or physics behind this but it has been my experience and being around woodwind players for most of my life. So remember if the mouthpiece and horn are really cold take a view minutes to let it warm up. Maybe even blow air through the neck and roll the mouthpiece between your hands before blowing it.

I'd say peace out, but maybe we can go back to saying that after the next presidential election.

[Sassaphone]

Don't use lemon oil on anything you're going to put in your mouth--it's deadly toxic.

[Tonehole]

i was taught to use almond oil to seal my clarinet, inside and out .... up here in the great white north we oil twice a year ... when the leaves fall in the fall and again in the spring when the leaves bud. This is done because of air humidity .... winter air is very dry and will cause your instrument to shrink as the dry air enhanced by central heating will suck the moisture out of the wood. You get loose bell and barrel rings because of this. The wood will swell too fast in the spring because of increased moisture. It will do this even if not played. People place sponges, orange peels and other devices in their cases to try and stabilize humidity while the instrument is not in use. A oiled cloth is great to pull through as part of regular maintenance. The bore is more exposed to moisture. The wood does absorb the oil. Over oiling will make the wood oil laden and deaden the tone and effect response. Wood is fairly inert and does not shrink and contract much due to even temperature ... however the shock of warm ... 90+ degree breath into a 50 degree bore can cause the bore to expand as it warms the wood. The outside does not warm at the same rate and can crack from the stress of the swelling/expanding bore.
If you live in a climate with a stable humidity and temperature you may not have to seal as often.
I left a post on Mouthpiece refacing about sealing wood mouthpieces. I spoke with a top repair tech in Toronto and he suggested a Wood Salad Bowl beeswax and Mineral oil treatment. This can be bought at wood working supply places. I bought it at Lee Valley Tools. It is not toxic and if it can protect the wood from vinegar and lemon juice .. spit should be no problem! You put it on and buff it off once dry. He uses this treatment on clarinet bores when he overhauls them. I have sealed m 3 Lebayle pieces ... soprano, alto and tenor. No problems yet. I did have a tenor piece crack in the table that I sent back to Fred and he replaced it. I did not seal that piece with almond oil until after it cracked.

Gotta blow.............

[BATMAN]

If it's anything like taking care of a wooden clarinet, then it will be a piece of cake.

I use bore oil on my clarinet once a year or once every 6 months, depending on how weather has been. If it's been an excessively cold and/or dry year, I will do every 6.

For the mouthpiece, every 6 months seems reasonable.


One note. As a clarinetist, I know this, but you may not. Do NOT use your "cheap" bore oils or anything with synthetic petroleum distillates. This will clog up the pores, and it will do nothing but ruin the wood.

Other than that, any of the suggestions here should be fine.


Personally, I use the doctor's bore oil on my clarinet....I will probably do the same with my Lebayle.

[txsphere]

Amen to that BATMAN.

I've used the Doc's products but I think I would still check to make sure "he" would OK putting it in your mouth.

TX
[/quote]

[BATMAN]

The Doctor says his bore oil is all organic and non-toxic.

I've read on the sneezy forum that the thing is safe to drink, though it tastes like crap....LOL.

regardless, linseed oil and sweet almond oil are both non-toxic and safe for ingestion.

Do NOT use lemon oil....it can kill you!