Klarinet Archive - Posting 000360.txt from 1998/09

From: Matt Palasik <mattp169@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Introduction and question
Date: Sat, 12 Sep 1998 21:37:52 -0400

I agree blowing smoke is not the best idea but it does have an advanage
over the feeler gauge paper. If you are inexperienced w/ the feeler
gauge then smoke is quicker and easier. And as long as you inly blow
very gently and do not allow the smoke to stay withing the bore for more
then a few seconds any buildup on the pads will be minimalized. However
the feeler gauge is the best solution

Dave Lane wrote:
>
> At 01:27 PM 9/11/98 +0000, Lee Hickling wrote:
>
> >Professional repair people sometimes block both ends of the section and use
> >compressed air. At home, if you have or can borrow a pen-sized flashlight,
> >go into a dark room, close the pad you suspect, and put the light down the
> >barrel, dangling it on a string if necessary.
>
> Matt Palasik wrote:
> >To check pads there are
> >many ways. lift the pad and see if it looks like there are any tears in
> >it. if there are its bad and needs replacing. or take the top key piece
> >seperatly. finger a chalumue c block the bottom tenoe with your free
> >hand and blow smoke through the instrument. if the smoke leaks the pad
> >where it leak from needs replacing. also doing the same procedure and
> >just blowing into the instument will tell you if there is a leak,
> >unforunately not hwere the leak is. Just blow air into it and if air
> >escapes then there is a leak. And BTW only amatures use leak lights to
> >check clarinet pads for leaks,:}
>
> >
>
> No one uses compressed air to check a clarinet. This is done by some shops
> only for checking brass instruments.
>
> Leak lights are ineffective on the clarinet, due to the nonreflective bore
> and the
> translucent pads- they appear to be leaking because the light passes through
> the edges of the pads even when sealing perfectly. The leak light is best
> used
> on the saxophone, with its reflective bore and opaque pads.
>
> A tissue feeler guage is probably the best, nondestructive do-it-yourself
> method
> for isolatingleaks. Cut about a 3/16" wide strip and place it between the
> pad and
> the seat. Lightly close the key and pull, noting the tension required to
> remove.
> Work your way around the pad, looking for even pressure all around.
>
> Anyone who blows smoke through a horn in this day an age should be prepared
> to buy a new horn for its owner. I know it's in the Eric Brand book, but
> it's not 1940
> any more.
>
> Not to pick on either of these gentlemen, but there is an amazing and
> uncharacteristic
> amount of disinformation coming out of this thread.
>
> Dave Lane
> Lewisville, TX
> davelane@-----.com
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------

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