Detail 01
Bore oil, not key oil
This goes on the inside wood surface. Key oil is a different product for the mechanism pivots and shouldn't be swapped.
Product detailSKU #1274115059308
SelmerBore Oil
Independent shopping perspective
The Korena take
Bore oil for wood-bodied woodwinds. Conditions the interior wood of clarinets and oboes to slow drying and cracking. A maintenance item, not an upgrade.
Strong match
Who this is for
- Grenadilla clarinet or oboe owners doing seasonal maintenance
- Breaking in a new wooden instrument over its first months
- Players in dry climates or winter heating season
Consider the trade-offs
When to look elsewhere
- Plastic, resin, or ABS instruments — the wood has nothing to absorb it
- Saxophone or flute players; those bodies are metal
- Anyone looking to fix an existing crack — oil won't close one
What matters in use
The specifications, translated
Catalog numbers tell only part of the story. These are the details most likely to change how this product feels, sounds, or fits into a setup.
Detail 02
Treats the bore interior
The bore takes the most moisture from breath. Conditioning it evens moisture exchange so the wood moves less with humidity swings.
Detail 03
For wood bodies only
Only unfinished or lightly finished wood absorbs it. On plastic it just sits there and migrates onto pads.
Detail 04
Small applicator bottle
You need very little per application. A bottle lasts a long time under normal maintenance intervals.
Detail 05
Applied with a swab, not poured
Excess oil soaks into pads and tone hole seats, which swells and ruins them. Sparing application is the whole technique.
Final check
Know before you order
- 01No swab or applicator included — you supply your own
- 02Keep it entirely off pads, corks, and tenon corks
- 03Instrument must be fully dry before oiling, not damp from playing
Product questions
Before you decide
Straight answers to the questions shoppers most often ask about this product.
01How often should I oil the bore?
Opinions vary by tech and climate. A few times a year is a common interval; new instruments during break-in get it more often. Ask your repair tech.
02Can I use this on a plastic clarinet?
No point. Plastic doesn't absorb oil, so it just pools in the bore and eventually reaches the pads.
03Will this stop my clarinet from cracking?
It helps the wood handle humidity changes more evenly, which is one factor in cracking. It's not a guarantee against it.
04Is bore oil the same as key oil?
No. Bore oil conditions the wood inside the instrument. Key oil lubricates the metal pivots and rods. Keep them separate.
