It was indeed on your recommendation Colin that I moved to LP (and yes, I
have a Hedworth set that you had to work on to get all the gunk off) and
will always be grateful to you. I have had no problems with LP at all so.
Thank you.
Colin Hill
----- Original Message -----
From: <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Cc: <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, January 14, 2010 9:33 PM
Subject: [NSP] Re: NSP oil for pipes and key pads
I found that the liquid paraffin was the best despite what some folk
have said who probably did not clean off any old oil that had been used
previously. LP does not go sticky.
Test oils by putting a drop of oil on a brass strip and leaving out for
some time to see what happens over time to the oils and to the metal.
Old Bill Hedworth used to try any oil to hand on his pipes and it was
interesting to see the effect some had on the leather in particular
which in some cases became like blotting paper and could be torn
easily. Key pads would stick and verdigris was rife over most of the
metal keys and ferrules.
By all means try linseed oil and all the vegetable oils to see what
happens over time. Animal oils should not be ignored such as neatsfoot
oil or whale oil if you can get it which used to be used on bellows.
I would suggest that the post of Technical Advisor should be withdrawn
at the AGM this Saturday as a rotating post would lead to further
confusion and as nobody takes any notice of what is said as in my own
case with over forty seven years experience what is the point.
Colin R
-----Original Message-----
From: colin <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]; NSP group <[email protected]>; Richard
York <[email protected]>
Sent: Wed, 13 Jan 2010 21:50
Subject: [NSP] Re: NSP oil for pipes and key pads
Interesting comments.
As I said, I've used a few oils (usually flavour of the month on this
list) over the past 38 years (since I got my set of pipes) and almond
oil was always my favourite followed by pure lavender oil (both
medicinal quality) although the latter resulted in some odd looks when
I opened the case. I had no problems with either but used the almond
oil for at least 25 years without any problems at all.
As the years passed and ill-health made playing more difficult and
therefore not as regular, I started having the problem of the (leather)
pads sticking to the chanter when pressing the keys . The keys lifted,
the pads stayed stuck to the chanter. I needed an alternative to almond
oil.
Using the liquid paraffin, I found that, even after a few months in the
box untouched, the pads no longer stick and the pipes still glisten
nicely.
My pipes are lignum which may make a difference.
Neatsfoot oil seemed to form a crust around the edges of the keys quite
quickly (as it does around the neck of an opened bottle of the same
when it dries out).
I suppose that nothing will give perfect results if regular maintenance
of the set isn't carried out.
Maybe the answer lies in how often the set is played/maintained as
suggested by others rather than a simple "which oil is best".
Colin Hill
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