Bansuri : Indian Bamboo Flute: Care + Maintenance.
Bansuri, Baans + Sur [ Bamboo + Musical Note. ]
Bansuri, is made exclusively out of Bamboo. Bamboos used in creating Bansuri Flutes are specific species that are found mostly in the north eastern and southern regions of India. These specific species of Bamboos have a sufficient long length between nodes and the wall thickness is thin making them suitable to create Bansuris.
Bamboo is very resilient and strong. Equally enough it is very fragile. A hard knock or any rough treatment can result in the Bansuri developing a crack.
Below are some suggestions to ensure a long, mellifluous life of your Bansuri.
How to Clean + Oil a Indian Bamboo Flute.
How to do Indian Bamboo Flute [ Bansuri ] Thread Bindings by Subhash Thakur.
Oiling : Inside the Bansuri Only.
In the long run, oiling helps to protect the Bansuri against the effects of repeated moisture, temperature and humidity fluctuation. Oil should be applied inside the Bansuri especially in the area of the blowing hole. To apply oil to the interior, some sort of swabbing device may be made to reach up into the bore. A swab of oil - saturated cotton cloth [ but not dripping ] is tied to an ordinary wooden dowel. While oiling please ensure that the dowel does not touch the stopper at the blowing hole.
- Oil your new Bansuri inside only first time within a week of receiving it.
- Oil your Bansuri inside only once every 3 to 4 months there after the first oiling.
- Swab should be loose fitting and should not have to be forced in the bore of the flute.
- Apply a light coat of oil to the blowing and fingering holes with a Q - Tip.
- Coconut, Vegetable, Almond, Mustard or Walnut Oil can be used.
- Do not oil a ' wet ' [ freshly played ] Bansuri. Allow the bore [ inner surface ] to be dry.
- Do not let oil come in contact with the Bindings.
Protection from Thermal + Mechanical Shocks :
The main mode of Bamboo Flutes failure is through cracking. Bamboo is composed of thousands of longitudinal fibers running across the length of the Bamboo. A small crack at one point may not take much to propagate along the whole length. Cracks are caused mainly by exposing the Bansuri to extreme temperatures and hard knocks.
Bamboo, is very sensitive to temperature changes.
- Avoid playing in cold ambient conditions. Warm breath going in the bore [ inner surface ] will rapidly expand the insides with the outer surface remaining cold and unexpanded, leading to the development of a crack.
- Avoid exposing to extremes of temperatures.
- Store your Bansuri is an area that is fairly warm.
- Store your Bansuri wrapped in cloth to avoid dust form settling in and on it.
- Take care not to knock or drop your Bansuri against any hard surface.
- Ensure that your Bansuri is protected by bindings at both the ends.
- Avoid leaving your Bansuri around on the floor. The foot that tramples on it may be your own !
Plastic + Acrylic Flutes. Care and Maintenance.
Plastic + Acrylic Flutes, will need
to be wiped clean inside on a regular basis.
As
moisture from the blow air collects on the inside of the
Flute. The same type of Cleaning Stick can be used to
wipe the inside of teh Plastic + Acrylic Flute.
Note : Do not Oil the Plastic + Acrylic
Flutes.
One World Flutes.
World Class Bansuris - Indian
Bamboo Flutes.
Details of Cleaning +
Oiling Stick - Swabbing Tool.
Round Dowel
Stick approximately 2 to 3 Feet depending on the length
of your Bansuris.
Diameter of Dowel
Stick may be 1/8", 3/16", 1/4".
Round Dowel Stick.
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Notch the end of the Dowel Stick to prevent the
cotton cloth from slipping out.
Tie a cotton cloth to the end of the dowel stick with
thread or a small rubber band.
The cotton cloth should be small enough to slip freely
into the Bansuri bore.
Note : Dowel Sticks are available in the USA at stores like Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Lowe's, Ace Hardware.
If requested, One World Flutes will include a Dowel Stick with your Flute when shipped.
For a printable Adobe Acrobat PDF Format Version of Flutes Care and Maintenance.