What type of oil can I use for flute keys? How can I remove tarnish from under my flute keys?

Question

Key oil is difficult to find. Is there a more easy remedy?

Answer 1

DO NOT OIL YOUR OWN FLUTE!!!  The gumminess left by overding it - and we mean on a microscopic level, ere - will attract dust, which wears the mechanism.  As far as removing tarnish, put your flue in the shop - they will disassemble it, clean it, fix all adjustments, fix pads that need it, and oil IF IF IF it needs it.  This is called a COA - clean, oil, adjust.  Many  pros do NOT want their flute cleaned - go figure - I alway do!

Answer 2

HI Mark,

Mamianka is definately giving you very good advice.   Using any type of oil or lubrication on a flute is the job of an expert technician.  I can never, for the life of me, wonder why the kits that come with new flutes have a bottle of oil included.  Maybe they just want to you make a mess of the mechanism so you can bring it in for service.

Same goes for the tarnish.  Silver is going to tarnish with exposure to the environment.   Does not affect how the flute is going to play for you so don't worry about it until time for servicing.   The best care you can give your flute is to swab the inside when you are finished playing, wipe off the outside with a clean, dry, soft cloth and remember to wash your hands before playing or practicing your flute to minimize those surface scratches that dull the finish.

That is about all you should do.  Let the experts tinker with the technical stuff.

Thanks for reading.  :))