Klarinet Archive - Posting 000184.txt from 1998/03

From: "Kevin Fay" <kevinfay@-----.com>
Subj: Re: cork grease for the two keys under the throat A
Date: Tue, 3 Mar 1998 20:35:11 -0500

My clarinets have a better solution than the graphite--no cork at all.
My repair person removed the cork, drilled a small hole and plugged it
with a tiny teflon dowel. THe interface between the thumb key and left
had index finger key levers is now silent, and durable. A similar
solution is used for the left hand F/C key.

I'm told that a small piece of nylon guitar string works as well as the
teflon. Either way, I'd leave it to a competent repair person--I can't
sharpen a pencil without breaking it.

kjf

----Original Message Follows----
Date: Tue, 03 Mar 1998 08:34:43 -0600
From: Jack Kissinger <kissingerjn@-----.EDU>
Subject: Re: cork grease for the two keys under the throat A

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

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