Klarinet Archive - Posting 000318.txt from 1996/09

From: Luuk van Buul <vanbuul@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: Knots in wood (was: R-13 shopping)
Date: Sat, 14 Sep 1996 23:37:47 -0400

On Thu, 5 Sep 1996 Steve Prescott wrote:

> Luuk van Buul wrote [skip]:
> >
> >This is contrary to what the people at the Leblanc factory told me. They
> >literally said: 'Knots do not have any influence on the quality of the
> >instrument or on the forming of cracks. Only because people don't want
> >knots, we
> >select the 'better' wood for the more expensive instruments. This is one of
the
> >main reasons that these instruments are more expensive. It is just a cosmetic
> >problem.'
> >
> >Most cracks I've seen are located in the upper joint, going through one or
more
> >of the side trill holes. This is independent of any knots, which should be
> >distributed uniformly over the instrument.
> >
>
>
> Knots are natural flaws in the wood. Tone holes are man made flaws in the
> wood. It has been my experience that both "flaws" may cause the wood to
> crack.
>
> Steve.

Well, maybe the Leblanc people aren't the most impartial in discussions on
clarinets. :)
I think you're right in the sense that knots AND holes sum up to a piece of wood
the most prone to cracking.

Luuk van Buul.

--
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L.J.M. van Buul vanbuul@-----.com
Philips Research Waalre Philips Optoelectronics Centre
Prof.Holstlaan 4
5656 AA Eindhoven Tel. +31 40 2744649
The Netherlands Fax. +31 40 2744335
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