Klarinet Archive - Posting 000685.txt from 1997/04

From: Ian Seddon <iseddon@-----.com>
Subj: Re: saliva and pads?
Date: Wed, 23 Apr 1997 01:26:52 -0400

I have a copy of the book "The Clarinet and Clarinet Playing" by Robert
Willaman. The following quote from this book helps answer the water and the
pads question (and it's not saliva - its moisture condensing along the bore
from the player's warm breath). Here is the quote from Chapter IV, "Care of
Instrument - Simple Repairs" , page 71:

"If while playing the moisture detours through one of the side holes the
note gurgles when the key is opened. The worst offender is the G#-C# key
because the hole is the farthest underneath in playing position. A quick
remedy is to blow into the hole and shake the clarinet in the direction that
will force the inner stream of water away from the hole. If the gurgling
persists insert the swab in the bore and slip the corner of a handkerchief
under the pad. Capillary attraction in both directions should absord all
the moisture. If the trouble continues, dry the instrument thoroughly in
the air, remove the key and swab the hole with an oily rag, and reach into
the bore from the centre joint and paint a circle of oil around the inner
end of the offending hole with a pipe cleaner. The water will not cross
this oil ring for a long time. Water can often be kept out of this G#-C#
hole in the first place by laying the instrument down when not in use with
the four trill keys up. Gravity will drain the moisture away from this hole
toward the solid side of the bore." I would assume Willaman means a
non-mineral, non-petroleum oil.

On the topic of moisture, Willaman says, on page 69 - same book, "Moisture
of the breath condenses in the bore most of the time. Usually it drains
straight down the tube and drips harmlessly from the bell, except in very
dry weather or in excessive steam heat. The moisture seldom causes trouble
while one is playing ..." Willaman was writing before forced air heating or
electric heating was in wide use - so I take from his comment about steam
heat he means playing indoors in heated rooms - especially during the winter
months, can cause a greater amount of moisture.

Cheers

Ian

At 08:11 22/04/97 -0700, you wrote:
>I had a repairman once a long time ago who used some kind of silicon
>painted around those channels in the bore, to dissuade the water from
>going in its usual path (straight to the Eb/Bb key tone hole!). I also
>recall that it had to be done on a somewhat regular basis, as it was not
>permanent. (For those of you who commiserated with my plight, this is the
>"old" Buffet from my teenage years that I'm playing on now because my
>"good one" is in the shop. The silicon treatment is long gone; it
>collects water in the side keys like a bucket!)
>
>Can anyone explain how this is done, if it really works, if it is stilll
>being practiced, etc? It seemed a good solution at the time, but what did
>I know, I was just a dumb kid!
>
>Jacqueline Eastwood
>University of Arizona/Arizona Opera Orchestra
>eastwooj@-----.edu
>
>
>