Klarinet Archive - Posting 000306.txt from 1999/09

From: Bill Hausmann <bhausman@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Clarinet Disassembly
Date: Sat, 11 Sep 1999 18:25:07 -0400

At 05:27 PM 9/11/1999 +1000, O'Neile & Fisher wrote:
>My RC has been stiff to disassemble since new, despite copious coatings of
>cork grease. Indeed when new I was unable to disassemble the instrument,
>and left it intact for almost a month last Christmas until the warranty
>repairman had returned from vacation. The process of disassembly was then
>achieved by the two of us forcibly contra-rotating and pulling on the lower
>joint and the bell, and using rubber rings cut from a bicycle inner-tube
>wrapped around the lower and upper joints to give purchase to a similar
>action on these, rather as you would disengage an oil filter from some
>engine blocks. The extreme heat and humidity were blamed for the stickiness
>of the instrument's joints, but before the summer was out, I had to enlist
>the repairman's help twice more, despite the fact that on each occasion the
>tenons had been shaved. However, I am wary of having too much shaved off.
>During the recent winter months, there has been less of a problem, but I
>anticipate the onset of warmer weather will see a recurrence of the problem.
>
If it is sticking THAT tight, it MUST be wood-on-wood contact, not just
tight cork. Your technician is wise not to take too much at a time, but
keep trying. And do it during the summer so the tighness is apparent. I
know my wood shrinks in the winter and the rings get loose, but they are
fine in the summer.

>I am considering screwing two thumb-plates to the underside of the clarinet
>body, installed perpendicularly to the line of the existing thumb-rest, each
>one set about an inch either side of the middle joint. This should not
>interfere with hand movements during playing. I expect this device will
>give my thumb a greater ability during disassembly, to exert the pressure
>necessary to rotate the lower and upper joints without damaging the keys. A
>concern is that such thumb pressure may in time, cause the screws in the two
>thumb plates to tear the timber. Any comment, or advice?
>
DON'T DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!! If THAT MUCH pressure is needed on a regular
basis, something must be done, but don't ruin an expensive horn with such
modifications.

>A second question was foreshadowed by Lelia Loban in a separate post today.
>It concerns the temper of the metal keys which have already been slightly
>bent in the past, and heated and reset by the technician on each occasion.
>To what extent does successive heating and bending of the keywork, interfere
>with the temper of the metal and cause it to soften so as to cause the
>keywork to be more susceptible to bending under pressure?
>
I believe if the keys are heated first, the temper is unaffected, or
relatively unaffected. But the real experts will correct me if I am wrong,
I am sure. Get the joints fitting properly, and the key bending problem
will take care of itself.

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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