Klarinet Archive - Posting 000309.txt from 1997/11

From: jensmore@-----.net (Moren, Jennifer)
Subj: Re: Vacuum test
Date: Fri, 7 Nov 1997 19:03:56 -0500

More leak tips...

A piece of old cassette tape, cut to a thin end, makes a cheap and great
"feeler"! For a handle, fold a piece if thin cardboard over on end of the
cassette tape, then hold together w/ masking tape.

"Blowing" is done the opposite way of the "suction" test. Cover the holes
and press down any keys with one hand, and block the end off with the
other. When you blow into the horn, air will come out of the leaky pads.
The keys with weak springs might also blow open. To eliminate the use of
both hands to
hold the clarinet when "blowing or sucking" LOL, try putting a glop of
silly putty at the bottom of the joint so that your other hand is free to
help find leaks. This is great for big leaks, but makes the small ones
hard to detect w/out the smoke...

Jennifer
----------
> From: Jrykorten@-----.com

>
> If you blow into the horn to check for leaks it is better. The best is to
> check the seating of each pad using a feeler.
>
> Of course Frank Kaspar used to take a big drag off a cigarrette and blow
into
> my horn with his hand over the opposite end in order to check for leaks
when
> I was in Junior High School. (Made my clarinet smell kind of...
different.)
>
>