Klarinet Archive - Posting 000714.txt from 1999/03

From: Bill Hausmann <bhausman@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Clarinet Cleaning Swabs
Date: Fri, 12 Mar 1999 07:59:50 -0500

At 01:26 PM 3/12/99 +0100, Johan Thole wrote:
>Bill Hausmann wrote:
>
>> At 10:31 AM 3/12/99 +0100, Johan Thole wrote:
>> >The problem with handkerchief swabs is that some people use nylon
>> handkerchiefs.
>> >They will eventually damage the bore of your clarinet. Personally I use a
>> home-made
>> >wash-leather swab. For me this works better than a cotton or silk swab.
>> >
>> I'm confused. What about nylon would cause bore damage? And why would one
>> make a swab out of a relatively non-absorbant cloth like nylon anyway?
>
>You are right about the latter point: it is no use making a swab using a
nylon
>handkerchief.
>Nevertheless (sp?) I have seen some people using it. As I am told the nylon
>fibers are
>capable of widening the bore of your instrument, if you use it long enough
(at
>least according
>to Jack Brymer). As I am not very knowledgable in the field of fabrics I
don't
>know if it is
>the truth or a legend.
>
Sounds like legend. How abrasive can nylon be, when it is often used to
make friction reducing bushings? And, of course, we have already discussed
on the list whether swabbing with ANYTHING can wear out a mouthpiece. The
ultimate answer seems to be that anything rubbing on anything will wear
something off of one or both of them EVENTUALLY. It comes down to how much
you personally worry about it. I haven't noticed a problem in the last 30
years, but I will keep the research going. :-)

Bill Hausmann bhausman@-----.com
451 Old Orchard Drive http://www.concentric.net/~bhausman
Essexville, MI 48732 http://members.wbs.net/homepages/z/o/o/zoot14.html
ICQ UIN 4862265

If you have to mic a saxophone, the rest of the band is too loud.

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