Maintenance, Oiling, and Preservation of the Ney (Nây-ı Şerîf) Instrument

This article provides useful information regarding the care, oiling, and storage of the ney (a type of Turkish flute). We should oil our neys at regular intervals. The main oils used for oiling are: hazelnut oil, sesame oil, almond oil, and walnut oil. Olive oil, canola oil, and even thin machine oil can also be used. However, I recommend using the thinnest oil possible, and hazelnut oil is therefore my primary recommendation. Sesame oil is also suitable for lubricating the ney, but it is difficult to find and expensive, making it less readily available. It is not correct to oil the ney immediately after playing it; it is best to wait for the moisture inside to dry for a while. The Ney Oiling Tank (or reservoir) shown in the diagram is ideal for oiling your ney and provides effective lubrication. Fill the first compartment of the Ney Oiling Tank with hazelnut oil, through the mouthpiece of your ney. For example, when you come home in the evening, place your ney in the oiling tank and let it sit in the oil for 6-7 hours until you go to bed. Afterwards, remove your ney and place it in the second compartment of the oiling tank to drain the oil thoroughly. You can place your ney in the draining compartment again for 6-7 hours, and remove it from this compartment in the morning. Wipe the outside of your ney with a dry, clean, and soft cloth, place a container underneath, and leave it upright for another 1-2 hours to allow it to drain and dry completely. After this stage, you can take your ney and play it. Oiling the outside of our ney with walnut oil will give it a pleasant, reddish color. For the first month after purchasing the ney, oiling it weekly, and then monthly, will be sufficient. Of course, if you play the ney very frequently, these intervals can be shortened as needed. In addition to the main lubrication process described in the paragraph above, it is also a healthy practice to perform intermediate lubrication processes. For example, we can lubricate our newly lubricated ney, which we will lubricate again in a month, weekly, or every 10 or 15 days, depending on the need, using a dropper. We can use various oils, such as walnut oil, sesame oil, and almond oil, and draw 3-4 drops from the bottles of each with a dropper and drip them from the mouthpiece towards the soundbox. 1-2 drops of thin machine oil can also be dripped into the hole just below the aşiran fret. Finally, dripping 1-2 drops of lavender oil and 1-2 drops of rose oil from the mouthpiece into the soundbox will provide a pleasant scent and fresh breath. Dropper and syringe materials can be used for these processes.