Klarinet Archive - Posting 000150.txt from 1998/03

From: Jack Kissinger <kissingerjn@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: cork grease for the two keys under the throat A
Date: Tue, 3 Mar 1998 12:21:24 -0500

Avrahm,

Thank you for the tip. I appreciate that you, at least, took my
question seriously because too many (for now to remain unnamed)
self-appointed humorists tried to make light of my dilemma.

Last night, I tried to take off the thumb ring as you suggested but one
of the pivot screws that holds it in place appears to be frozen
(rusted?) and I broke the tips on my two (cheap) little screwdrivers
trying to get it loose. I'm on my way to the hardware store later today
to pick up some penetrating oil and a better set of small screwdrivers.
I'll keep you posted.

BTW, I looked all over the house for an old-fashioned wooden pencil that
I could use and all I could find was a 3 1/2 Faber. (Everything else
was mechanical.) Is a 3 1/2 too hard. Should I look for something
softer, say a 1 1/2. There is an office supply store next to the
hardware store so please respond soon.

Warm regards,
Jack

avrahm galper wrote:
>
> A good friend of mine, James Morton, told me to use pencil graphite for
> the connection in those keys mentioned. One may have to take off the
> thumb ring key to do this, and if one does, just make sure you have a
> pencil that has a long tip and insert it under the cork and rotate the
> pencil so that some graphite comes off on the cork(where it sticks).
> That is better than grease, you don't want that spot sticky. The real
> solution is to put a new cork on when necessary because a ridge forms
> there and the corks don't work so well. And that spot is a very crucial
> spot for playing smoothly.The trouble is that its hidden and not so well
> exposed. Graphite may be the answer.So-sharpen your pencils!
>
> Avrahm Galper
> THE UPBEAT BAERMANN MELODIC SCALES
>
> http://www.sneezy.org/avrahm_galper/index.html