Almond Oil for Pipes

[mayo_piper]

Ok - I am not sure if this has been covered or not ; but was looking for expert advice. Since I couldn't find any so far; I'd thought I try here (LOL).

With my Highland pipes, I use almond oil to lightly coat the inside bores and outside wood to protect from cracking, warping , etc about once a year. Does anyone do the same for their Uilleann Pipes???

Thanks!

~Michael

[cquick]

I was told when I bought my Hughes set that I was not to oil.

Chuck

[Juan Pablo Plata]

"Uilleann pipes don´t need oiling"

Joe Kennedy after I asked the same.

[Ceann Cromtha]

All this talk about almond oil and seasoning bags is making me hungry!

[Fergmaun]

From Andreas Rogge web page in German using google translate.

oil
Instruments from fruit wood should be oiled occasionally to the pores of the wood in the holes to close, the wall less sensitive to moisture and make airtight. Serve with either an immersion or wiping out the pieces of wood with linseed oil. It is important to thoroughly after wiping, to prevent, ausharzende that the linseed oil surface bonded to or in the worst case, plugged-together parts can no longer be separated.
Key pads should not be oiled because the risk of sticking is. And if it wipes out the only instrument windings can be key pads with aluminum or plastic wrap to protect, before the dip, the flaps should be removed. Instruments made of tropical wood are not treated with linseed oil. Because the density of these woods take no linseed oil and the risk that clog the holes. Here there are acid-free, low viscosity oils such as almond oil (Pharmacy) to.

Cheers

Ferg

[fancypiper]

Since these are cold wind pipes, not breath blown, they don't really need oiling. I do occasionally use some lemon oil furniture polish to shine up the outside of my ebony pipes, but blackwood seems to be shiny without needing any oiling at all.

[patsky]

Almond oil is good. I have been using Orange oil for years; does the job and smells great. Do not us any vegetable oils or linseed oil.

Pat Sky

[Tony]

Michael, if you do a search on 'almond' you will see some other discussions about using almond on pipes.
The things that come to mind would be the expense of buying so much when you need so little. Keep it refrigerated as almond oil 'could' go rancid. Some recommend adding a little vitamin E to preserve the almond oil.

I recall seeing a video (or a series of photos) of someone using a shelled walnut, cloth and mallet. They wrapped the walnut, tapped it with a mallet until it was totally crushed, discarded the walnut pieces and rubbed the instrument with the oily cloth.

[uilleannfinlander]

.."Linseed oil, or a small amount
of paste wax applied as a cleaning agent, may help remove built-up dirt around
the fingerholes (especially near the thumbs)..."