Klarinet Archive - Posting 000544.txt from 1998/10

From: <kbowman@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] water in tone holes
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1998 19:44:15 -0400

Jodi wrote:
> A couple of days ago, someone said that they were getting water in the
> tome holes and wanted to know how to avoid it... One of the responses said
> to 'paint' around the holes with oil...
>
> I have been thinking about this and a question comes to mind- Just how do
> you do this?? And if you have already oiled the instrument, does it make a
> difference? I am willing to try it, but it's hard enough trying to see the
> tone holes, much less manipulate a paintbrush in the bore...

There was some discussion about this on the list some time ago - you
may want to search the archives on sneezy.

However, I have had limited success with "painting" around the holes
with oil. First, it only works if you do NOT regularly oil your bore.
If you do oil your bore, wait a week or so before doing it. The idea
is to create a region of *different* resistance around the tone hole,
thereby creating a less resistive path for condensed moisture to
follow (away from the hole and not into it).

I use a *single* drop of commercial bore oil on a Q-tip then
carefully reach into the bore and paint an inverted Y or V around
the offending tone hole. Be careful to get close to the edge of the
hole but leave a small "dry rim" around the hole (don't take the oil
right to the edge of the hole). You want the oil path to divert any
moisture away from the hole and not into it. To help you see where
you are placing the oil, point the bore toward a fairly strong light
source (and you still need some good depth perception). Let the
oil set for a day before swabbing.

This Q-tip method is only good for the tone holes you can reach. I
have no idea how to get to holes that are toward the middle of the joint.
Also, with repeated playing and swabbing, the oil path will wear away.
I end up repeating this procedure about every three or four months
(your mileage may differ).

I've also heard of people using wax? I'm not brave enough to try that
foriegn of a substance in my only R13.

BTW - cork pads do NOT eliminate the problem of water in the tone holes,
they just last a LOT longer than skin when you DO get water in them.

Kevin Bowman
Clarinet and saxophone instructor,
Rochester Conservatory of Music, Rochester, MI

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