Klarinet Archive - Posting 001019.txt from 1998/03

From: reedman@-----.com
Subj: $150 for refacing kit??!!!!=#!~
Date: Wed, 18 Mar 1998 06:25:13 -0500

WHAT???

Order tools directly from JJ Babbitt. If you are an amateur and just
messing around for fun you don't need a tapered tip guage. Mine was $75
about
10 years ago. Babbitt makes an inexpensive tip guage as well that measures
in gradients of .001" (not quite as accurate as 100/mm, but it will be fine
for initial investigations. The important tool to get from Babbitt is the
glass guage graduated in half mm. (about $15?) The feeler guages you will
need are:

.034"
.024
.010
.0015

All of these are contained in a standard automotive set of feeler
guages used for setting valve clearance. Should cost around $5.

Other than that 320, 400 and 600 sandpaper and 1/2 to 1/4 inch plate
glass approximately 8"x 10".

This is fine for the beginner. If you really want to get into it I use
a Starrett Grade AA surface plate (pink granite -weighs 55 lbs!!) I also use
a system of measuring that involves 16 feeler guages. I use the taperd tip
guage from Babbitt graduated in 100/mm and I also use very accurate Vernier
calipers for measuring the windows.

BUT. $150 is absolutely not necessary for the novice.

Clark W Fobes

Clark W Fobes
Web Page http://www.sneezy.org/clark_fobes