Klarinet Archive - Posting 000333.txt from 1994/02

From: SCOTT MCCHESNEY <MCCHESS4641@-----.EDU>
Subj: Cork grease...
Date: Tue, 22 Feb 1994 19:07:54 -0500

All this talk about which cork grease is best has had me thinking...now, don't
think I'm weird or anything.

Everybody has been worrying about which cork grease is best, and which doesn't
eat the corks, etc. etc. Well, I was wondering:

What's the KLARINET opinion about APPLYING said grease?

The little boxes, tubs, what-have-you necessitate digging your finger in the
stuff and smearing away happily. This, of course, creates a mess somewhat akin
to (pardon the reference) emptying a spit valve on your hand. You wipe it off
on your jeans and display your "mark of coolness" proudly.

Now, the lipstick tubes allow you to apply said grease cleanly by using the
tube. But, I have heard references from teachers and players about the hazards
of doing that, namely that the top egde of the tube will eat away at the cork.

I can't quite seem to follow the logic. The simple solution that always sat in
front of my face was "so push out a bit more grease!" Am I missing something
vital here? I have used a tube (for those who care, I have been using Vandoren
grease since I got my Buffet about 6 years ago) in exactly the "forbidden
manner" described, and I have yet to replace a cork.

Am I wacko? Or is it everybody else?

Please, don't stone me for the brass comparison...

-- Scott