Klarinet Archive - Posting 000198.txt from 1995/05

From: "D.J. Roberts" <djr@-----.UK>
Subj: Mops {was - re: Swabs}
Date: Fri, 5 May 1995 05:45:41 -0400

>
> >In The Woodwind catalog, under accessories, is a *GEM* silk clarinet
> >swab for $7.95. It works pretty well for me.
> >
> >Nancy Buckman
>
>
> One or two people mentioned that they didn't think the silk absorbed as
> well as cotton- personally I've found it better. The oboist I play with
> uses silk swabs too (little skinny ones of course).
>
> -------------lgb Lorne G. Buick

In his book, "Clarinet", Jack Brymer discusses what he refers to
as 'mops' and dismisses silk with the words: "... the hardness of
the fibres makes such a mop a really first-class abrasive tool to
wear away the bore, and in any case there is very little absorption
of moisture."

But he has an alternative suggestion: "... [a] small mop of chamois
leather, very much smaller than the cotton mop [pull through], but
similar in shape... in its use it leaves behind a very slight deposit
of its [natural] oil, and this is extremely beneficial." {p. 108}

Since the subject changes here and goes on to the topic of Oiling
the bore I assume that the chamois idea is Brymer's 'last word'
on the subject. Has anyone on the list adopted this suggestion, and
would they like to comment on the long-term effects?

David Roberts
Leicester, UK.