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Ive seen something that is made out of olive oil on Mejiro and wandered about it...
Coz what i recall reading on the forum and on navaching.com was that only walnut and tung oil are being used for oiling, and that u need to use them with a catalyst or otherwise let the flute dry for 3 months (way 2 long...).
So any 1 knows the secret of the olive oil?
I must also state that i dont know about walnut but it seems that tungoil is not really available here in Israel.
P.S. the bore is lacquered i need the oil only for the outer skin of the flute.
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so no finish to the skin other then sanding and polishing (if desired)?
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Olive oil on it's own will go rancid.
The skin is quite impervious and really doesn't need oil. In time it will take on body oils from handling,
I use walnut oil on all exposed areas such as the ends, the bore and holes, it dries off in a day or so but does take a few months to harden.
Kel.
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I occasionally use tsubaki abura (camellia oil) for luster and on exposed parts however as Kel suggests, your own body oil works just fine. If you don't intend to coat the bore (and even if you do) , a wash of fermented persimmon extract (kakishibu: Kakishibu is more than just a dye. It also has preservative and adhesive qualities. In Japan—in addition to textiles—Kakishibu is used to reinforce paper, preserve wood, and clarify sake.) is good. It's not an oil and is very astringent. I notice that these things are available outside of Japan.
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Im not sure kakishibu is available here and where... anyway i did see few proffesional made shakuhachi and they all had a very fine glossy finish to them and i wonder how it was accomplished.
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Any thoughts on beeswax anyone? I find Clapham's beeswax based salad bowl finish a great restorative for Native flutes needing a little refreshing. I have no idea about bamboo though?
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i still see some flutes done with a very high shine and luster to their skin i dont think wood wax can do it
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