How to Care for Your Native American Flute

[@Meg-yd9zo]

Just bought a G Flute from Charlie. Absolutely incredible, beautifully made and sounding. It doesn't get any better than this! Thank you Charlie.

[@oldbones9162]

Really enjoying your videos. Always loved Native American flute music, and now at almost 70, wanting to give it a try. Hit on your site a short while back and grateful your sharing your craft. Now it’s deciding which flute l like best. Wish there were only two to choose from! Keep the videos rollin’....I’ll catch up!

[@BlueBearFlutes]

Thanks for watching!

[@banjo1957]

Thanks for the info Charlie. 😊

[@BlueBearFlutes]

Thank you for watching my friend!

[@funkyblue3166]

Thanks Charlie! I just finished my first 4 hole flute, and was looking for a good oil to use on that I didn't have to run out and buy. I've got plenty of olive oil at the house :)

[@SumitSinghk]

Its just so awesome hear you talk about flutes :) Thanks for an another great video!

[@BlueBearFlutes]

Thank you

[@barryroberts2093]

Hi Charlie great video I was glad to find it with such an amazing flute you made for it really needs to be treasured thank for know Barry Oswestry.

[@tomcartmill3456]

G'day Charlie, I have been using Eucalyptus oil in my Sunflower and Tea Tree oil, instead of the Peppermint oil. Just thought to try it this time when I made a new batch of oil-mix. It is easier for me to get pure Eucalyptus oil, than pure Peppermint oil. I am not have any trouble with it so far. I also put in my wax mix too. Do you think the Eucalyptus oil will make any difference Charlie? Another very useful video. Thanks. Tom

[@lilymcalister1825]

I just bought a drone from him as well. It sounds pretty nice but I think at this point I still prefer the "regular" NAF😊. Now time to learn how to maintain them. Ty Charlie or sharing your knowledge with us. 💜💕🌷

[@AGregBergThing]

we just bought lo D flute from Charlie beautiful sounding! I'm going to order the wax. Thanks again

[@BlueBearFlutes]

Thanks my friend!

[@jeffreyvajda7023]

Great video and products, and many thanks for sharing your expertise. Just curious though...if you are already protecting the wood with an oil mixture, what more protection does the imitation bear fat provide? Is it necessary if you are regularly applying oil?

[@BlueBearFlutes]

Hey thanks for your kind words! I do explain that in another video but I find that often times I'll put tidbits in one or the other and not all in once! The oil is what protects the wood but the wax helps to seal it in. Applying this on a regular occasion whether it be oil or wax, will help protect it indefinitely!

[@jeffreyvajda7023]

@@BlueBearFlutes OK that makes sense, thank you very much. About how long does the bear fat last? I realize there are many variables affecting this, such as extent of usage, temperature, humidity, etc., but can you provide a nominal estimate? Alternatively, the common sense approach is to just take note of when the wood appears to be drying out and reapply oil and bear fat.

[@BlueBearFlutes]

@jeffreyvajda7023 Variances being too great, you last statement is best to follow. 🙂

[@jeffreyvajda7023]

@@BlueBearFlutes OK, that's what I thought and thanks for the reply. As I explore your channel, I am more and more impressed with your approach towards teaching, sharing knowledge, and playing music in general. Although I'm new to NAF, I have been playing a variety of instruments for years and have always thought similarly. It's been very refreshing to see someone with the same mindset and really appreciate the wonderful videos you produce. Thanks for everything you do.

[@BlueBearFlutes]

@jeffreyvajda7023 🙏😀🙏 Hey thank you! It's nice not having to always think about those who hate me for the same reasons! I appreciate your comments, they're a great distraction from the hate mail! (it usually only comes from those overwhelmed by greed, and except for my involvement with the Native American flute, they usually aren't interested in it so much! 😄)

[@finalsignal]

You had mentioned measurements using 1 tsp of tea tree oil and 1/2 tsp of peppermint oil and sunflower seed oil. I wanted to find out what amount of sunflower seed oil would you use with this combination. Very helpful video by the way.

[@KwanKrauss]

That was very helpful thank you, I do have a question for you, I was told when I oil My flute I shouldn't oil the totem or the flute block, because the bottom is left bare for a reason so it can absorb moist, is that true ?

[@BlueBearFlutes]

I've not heard that before. I oil and wax the whole thing. I've had flutes that are over 30 years old and still playing.

[@IshitaVatsal]

How often do I need to oil it? Once in three months?

[@BlueBearFlutes]

Or as needed ;)

[@AdventuresInWetShaving]

Great video, thanks for making it! :)

[@brianlstephens6271]

Great to see you wearing a Bob Ross t-shirt.

[@redroad53]

Thank you.

[@korykirkland8157]

Do you think mink oil would work well in place of imitation bear fat? I use it on my leather products so it would be convenient to get another use out of it.

[@tyler8335]

How long do you wait until your able to play it again for the oil to dry

[@donnaparks1919]

Thank u I'm allergic to certain stuff a my flute needs waxed and oiled they originally used walnut oil maybe get some beeswax also

[@ZEBULON181]

What about cleaning / conditioning the upper chamber of the flute

[@marcghen3636]

If I purchase one of your flutes, will just olive oil do the trick, or will the imitation fat as well keep the flute around longer?

[@BlueBearFlutes]

The wax does help a little bit however olive oil is a perfect choice! It will work wonderful by itself.

[@NigelRamses]

Would boiled linseed oil be a good moisture protecting finish? I would like to use what I have on hand, but I haven't found anyone saying that it could be used or not.

[@RealHankShill]

I wouldnt use boiled linseed oil, it has many chemicals added to it to increase absorption and decrease drying times, not sure I would want them on my mouth.

[@Meg-yd9zo]

Charlie, do you think its ok to add sandalwood or frankincense essential oil to my olive oil for care of the flute since I have both of these at home?

[@piper888]

Should a brand new cedar flute be oiled instantly or does it make a difference if you wait till it starts to get a bit dry (I use almond oil)

[@BlueBearFlutes]

When you see it drying. If it is a cedar Flute from a different flute maker and has been lacquered be sure to pay attention to that part of the video.😀👍

[@piper888]

@@BlueBearFlutes yeah, not lacquered.... Thanks!

[@tylerjacob6124]

If I don’t have wax can I use pure oil on the outside?

[@BlueBearFlutes]

Absolutely! Olive oil is great for that, too!

[@tylerjacob6124]

@@BlueBearFlutes I ended up using grapeseed oil before seeing your reply, it seemed to do the trick :)

[@lemonaidan614]

Should this be a similar process for one of your drone flutes ?

[@BlueBearFlutes]

Absolutely! Thanks for asking!

[@carenwilson4902]

I saw a mixture of pure grape seed oil and pure peppermint essential oil for as a mixture to sanitize the mouth piece of the flute fatter each use. It claimed to kill germs. Is that true, and would it be ok to use a that oil combination to treat the rest of the flute as well (instead of sunflower or olive oil)?

[@BlueBearFlutes]

Peppermint is what we use to repel bugs and tea tree is an anti bacterial. Be careful when using essential oils. :)

[@Corn_Time]

do you clean the inside of the flute with a cloth and rod?

[@pareriksson1293]

I use a mix of olive oil and essential cedar oil for the nice smell, but other flute brothers & sisters say it goes rancid ?

[@BlueBearFlutes]

No. Olive oil is one of the few that will not go rancid by itself. If you add something to other oils as I do, like tea tree or peppermint oil, it will cause them to be more hardy and resilient. Sounds like you're doing fine. 🙂👍

[@pareriksson1293]

@@BlueBearFlutes Ok thanks man for such an honest answer... btw I often look and follow you're videos ---> great work 🙂👍

[@MsCyberNewt]

So in the oil mixture- you neglect to mention how much sunflower oil to use- how much is it?

[@BlueBearFlutes]

A small amount... Guess I just neglected that. "But what can I say, I guess you're welcome - for the tides, the sun, the stars... Its ok, ok you're welcome, For the islands I pulled from the sea -There's no need to pray, it's okay - You're welcome - I guess it's just my way of being me You're welcome You're welcome"

[@danielmendonza]

Can we use castor oil on the flute?

[@sweeler3216]

Don't you love his shirt?

[@BlueBearFlutes]

Thanks Sam!

[@owenhodge4013]

I’m having a bit of a hard time figuring out how much oil I should put inside it. I think I may have put too much, because the inside feels very wet, and there are still some drips coming out after about an hour. Any tips?

[@BlueBearFlutes]

I think in this video I said something like almost a teaspoon. If by chance, you got too much in the track area of your flute simply take the block off, cover your finger over the air supply hole and blow through the mouthpiece hard. I also have a troubleshooting video for that.

[@BlueBearFlutes]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/mnq8mniajriJgrc

[@owenhodge4013]

@@BlueBearFlutes alright, thank you! I got it figured out and after oiling it, my flute actually sounds a lot better! For some reason it is also not wetting out as quickly. I’ve played it for an hour this morning, and it’s still going strong. Before I oiled it I could only get around 30 minutes. Thank you!

[@BlueBearFlutes]

@@owenhodge4013 One of the many processes that we use at bluebearflutes to help prevent wetting out! 🙂

[@ShakeMyWay]

Sunflower oil gets sticky over time.

[@bluedogsurvive6501]

Mineral oil is fine, I drink it for constipation ,

[@BlueBearFlutes]

There are people who believe that having a petroleum based product is unhealthy.

[@arieswaters]

Some people use salad bowl oil

[@BlueBearFlutes]

Do you mean olive oil? And you must be talking about modern days because a long time ago people used dog oil!

[@Ranchgoddess]

RIP Bob Ross 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@BlueBearFlutes]

@@Ranchgoddess 🙏🏼🙂🙏🏼