Blue Bear Flutes - Using Wax on Your Flute

Blue Bear Flutes has made several videos on the subject of Native American flute care, however none have focused solely on applying our flute wax or "Imitation Bear Fat" as we call it, until now. We have had a lot of requests for a video on this topic, so here we are. This is a very simple process. Please be sure to check out all of our other videos to learn more about how to maintain your flute, how to play and even how to make your own flute!
0:00 Intro
0:47 About this Video
1:00 Ingredients
1:55 About Oils

[@johnlantz7278]

Olive oil it’s not just for good health ,polyphenols keep the sound fluid an the tone mellow , a benefit is the improved surface tension at the finger holes giving a better seal I like that,😊👍

[@lizhyink5636]

That's interesting!

[@troyjenkins3886]

Good info,thanks.

[@lizhyink5636]

I appreciate your thoughts about lacquer that isn't safe. Thank you for emphasizing knowledge about how to maintain these and consider what goes into it.

[@terrylair4239]

Great sounding Flute an info.

[@BlueBearFlutes]

Thank you!

[@tomcartmill401]

Hey Charlie, reminders are needed all the time. Thanks. Tom

[@BlueBearFlutes]

SAME here my friend!

[@eddiekalbach7901]

Lacquer like the Native Americans used to use😂. Love it. Thank you for this info. I might try it.

[@raewatson2739]

Thanks Charlie.. 🙏

[@TheBorderlined]

Hello, what I have noticed when using olive oil onto leather is that it rots (oxydation) so it will do the same on wood. On my flute I use Sweet Almond Oil,, or "Renaissance" wax that we used on wooden precious antics instruments in the Museum I worked in for years, does no arm to any varnish, it's used in many big museums worldwide, it does't stick and leave a water repelant film and also an rust protection on metal. Works fine to me. Chears

[@ChrisLeeW00]

I use cutting board oil on the inside of my flutes. It’s food safe and easy to buy!

[@archr610]

Charlie, I make and use the exact same bees wax /mineral oil mix that you do. I made it to use on wooden spoons that I make. ...You mentioned using a cleaning rod to do the inside of the flute. I'm thinking a micro fiber cloth would be lint free and after applying the wax, running a clean micro fiber cloth down the inside just like you would if cleaning a firearm. What are your thoughts ?

[@BlueBearFlutes]

These days we do things a little differently. There is a man-made oil wax that is natural that I buy and I'm pretty happy with it. I don't buy it because it's cheaper by any means, buy because it's quicker. I actually apply it on occasion with a piece of leather on the end of my sanding rod. That would work well for oil and wax as well. However most of the time we only poured in there and running around inside.

[@BrendaHoude-g4l]

I recently purchase one of your flutes! When do you recommend treating or how often? I already purchased the "bear wax" when I made the purchase.

[@BlueBearFlutes]

Basically whenever the flute begins to look like it's "drying out". It's good to keep it on there on occasion so honestly you can't do it too often.

[@susanball-zb4vz]

Do you ever wax the inside of a flute? Thank your wife for her wonderful videography!

[@BlueBearFlutes]

We always oil the inside. We used to wax the inside before laminating the 2 halves a very long time ago. We sometimes seal the inside with superglue if its porous. My wife said thanks!

[@JosesGarage101]

Hola my friend. Is it possible to make a low base flute in In G mayor or G minor? If so what size need the flute to be? I will start making for the first time one in bambo but my second flute I would like to make one in ebenholtz wood and I hope I could make one in G major or minor, I think it could sound nice 😊. I have done a totally restoration on a violin and now iam fixing some problems on a Cello but iam very interested in making my first flute that will be fun 😊

[@LassieFarm]

Charlie 👍

[@young1939]

Do you treat the flutes you sell as shown in the video? I purchased a flute from you last year or earlier this year. 🤔

[@BlueBearFlutes]

Yes we do. And I've been doing it this way for some time!

[@ukulelebobby]

Do you recommend treating the inside of the flute ? Thank you

[@BlueBearFlutes]

I personally do recommend it if you are making the flute. If the flute has already been made, it may affect its tuning if you do. If you're the one making the flute however, how you treat the inside of it is up to you! The nicer you treated, the nicer it will treat you!:-)

[@ukulelebobby]

@@BlueBearFlutes thank you . I just watched your video on oiling a flute and that really got to what I should have asked about. Thanks for your help

[@BlueBearFlutes]

@Topo Gejoe more videos on their way!

[@ukulelebobby]

@@BlueBearFlutes your blues scale video was fun and I enjoyed that you showed a different way to play that note .

[@NofAdvot]

Hi, I am looking to purchase a flute made of bone, do you make one and sell?

[@BlueBearFlutes]

I do not sell bone flutes. I do have several videos on making them. Thanks for watching!

[@ralphherrick596]

If I don't have bear wax what wax can I use?

[@g10118]

1:00 primarily bees wax and mineral oil.

[@ralphherrick596]

@@g10118 1:00 ???

[@g10118]

@@ralphherrick596 yeah 1:00 is the timestamp where Charlie talks about the ingredients in the 'bear wax'. Olive oil also works well if you don't have the bear wax at hand.

[@RidgeRunner5-]

Lacquer sealed flutes wet out faster also.

[@BlueBearFlutes]

Exactly!

[@CherokeeTwilight]

I use Howard’s Feed N Wax, I never do the inside.

[@BlueBearFlutes]

Sounds tasty!

[@CherokeeTwilight]

@@BlueBearFlutes Pretty yummy lol. I should try your beeswax. I have an Eastern Red Cedar flute that kinda loses its natural color and looks dry. Couple times a year I put a little Howard’s on. Let it sit for about 10 mins and then buff it. Works well. Brings the red color back. I swear they sound better when their cleaned. Kinda like cars drive better after being washed. Lol. Bear fat works good for insects as well. The people used to do that long ago.

[@BlueBearFlutes]

@CherokeeTwilight Coincidentally if you oil the inside of the flute it'll sound 100 times better than that!

[@CherokeeTwilight]

@@BlueBearFlutes I went on a quest. Lol. So…long story but I will try and make it short. I have a Southern Plains flute traditionally tuned in Eastern Red Cedar. I was told by the maker, don’t oil the inside. Turns out those flutes are never oiled inside. Like for generations no one does it or remembers any of their Grandfathers doing so. Maybe, maybe the sound end. But the way they are made it’s not necessary. So I guess for some flutes inside is necessary but for others not. Hope that helps why a good rule is not always the rule.

[@BlueBearFlutes]

@CherokeeTwilight It must have been cool talking to generations and generations of flute makers! 🤣