Oiling the clarinet makes sense if it has already been oiled during the construction process and no other impregnation is used (as is the case with us). The amount of oil required depends on the type of wood: grenadilla requires less, mopane a little more and boxwood quite a lot.
We use linseed oil because it polymerizes, i.e. it dries and builds up long-chain structures in the process – it is not resin-free! The background to this is that the breath condensate is in the acidic range and therefore the fats and oils – such as the essential oil components of natural wood – are virtually “digested”. Therefore, it must be oiled again and again. This prevents dehydration and cracking – similar to the way human skin is creamed to prevent dehydration and chapping.
You can find instructions for oiling here in our Clarinet Hacks:
