Klarinet Archive - Posting 000104.txt from 1997/02

From: Jrykorten@-----.com
Subj: DIY Clarinet
Date: Tue, 4 Feb 1997 12:32:58 -0500

Thanks to the suggestion of the principal Clarinettist of the DSO (whose name
has been lost in my AOL email debacle), I have looked further into the teflon
materials available that would be useful in keeping your clarinet playing
well.

As I was made aware, professional repair technicians have been using these
materials for some time. I am not a professional repair tech, but my day job
requires me to know a bit about materials from an engineering standpoint (I
design medical equipment).

In fact I have always favored maintaining my own equipment since a very early
age. After being advised that "professional technicians have been using
teflon for 20 years..." I tried to remember the last time someone else worked
on my clarinet besides my old teacher (Dr. William Stubbins) and it was
probably Frank Kaspar! He lived right near my junior high school, and I would
go over there in the afternoon with a loose pad and watch him work his
wonders (testing for leaks with cigarette smoke no less). I find working on
my own instrument to be a fun hobby, and less expensive than having others do
so. I will bring my instrument to somebody else to have my rings tightened
though.

Anyhow for those interested, there is a bondable teflon (one side treated so
that it can be glued) which is perfect for sliding surfaces such as the A/G#
register key interface, and the left pinkey C/F key (actually used on the
underneath surface of the right pinkey C/F key). It also works well on the
thumb key F# key interface. This bondable sheet comes in several thicknesses,
but .015" and .02" are probably the only two you would ever use.

Also good is the teflon film that can be used in place of the tyvek material
I suggested earlier. (Left pinkey C#/F# and B/E keys.) This film comes in
thicknesses .002" and greater. It is cheap enough that one could purchase
several thicknesses to use as the situation warrants.

I use a "white toughened" cyanoacrylate adhesive (industrial super glue
type). Also useful is "black toughened" (doesn't set so quickly).

Good source: McMaster Carr 908-329-3200
Loctite white toughened glue part number 74765 A71
Loctite black toughened glue part number 74765 A72
Virgin PTFE Teflon film .002" thick 8569 K12 (ask for part numbers for
other thicknesses)
PTFE Teflon bondable sheet and film .015" thick 8711 K72
PTFE Teflon bondable sheet and film .020 thick 8711 K82

Hope this doesn't get anybody into trouble, and is useful for those that
repair instruments or work on their own. If you have never worked on your
instrument, this is not the time to start. Buy a clunker from a pawn shop and
practise on that one instead.

My trill keys (A/G#) have never been so fast as after I used this teflon!

Jerry Korten
NYC