Klarinet Archive - Posting 000622.txt from 1999/12

From: Richard Bush <rbushidioglot@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Oh no, a crack/Question?
Date: Sun, 19 Dec 1999 19:06:15 -0500

To Dave, HappiLeigh and news group,

First, it is very hard to know or understand why the clarinet cracked. It is
probably not known how much and under what circumstances the instrument was
played. It is not known how long and under what circumstances the instrument may
have been left unplayed. It is now known how long the instrument may have been
sitting in the store, or if it was purchased from the original owner. It is not
known if the instrument was ever oiled and what type of oil may have been used.
(Yes, I know many people do not believe in oiling.) All we do know is that after
"a few weeks" of playing it cracked.

If HappiLeigh could fill in some of the particulars, I'm sure it would be
interesting to many of the readers.

When I repair a crack I do the following:

1) Remove keywork.
2) Place the cracked section under a lamp (100 watt bulb) with a distance of
about four or five inches. I apply the heat until the crack closes as much as it
is going to. This could be for just a few days, or it might be for two or three
weeks.
3) I pin the crack with threaded rod, running the rod into "blind" holes. Only
the entry hole needs to be filled and finished.
4) Pinning is done in a non-parrallel pattern. First pin goes in from the left
and goes down. Second pin (below) comes in from the other side and goes up.
5) After all pins are installed, two to six, holes are filled with a mixture of
wood dust and SA gel.
6) Crack is filled with SA gel.
7) All fills are filed and then sanded with very fine (800 to 1500) sandpaper as
the finish step. Usually, I can do a pinning job that is virtually invisible.
Yes, it shows just a little bit, but you would need to look at it under very
strong light, know where the crack was and know where the holes for the pinning
wire were drilled.

Pinning a crack does not close or draw the wood together. It stabilizes the crack
so the wood cannot move, so the crack cannot reopen. That is why it is important
to dry the wood and allow the crack to close on its own as much as possible
before pinning. Just filling the crack will not stop the crack from reopening or
becoming a longer crack.

Cracks should be attended to as soon as they are noticed. One should not continue
playing on a clarinet after a crack is discovered. QUIT PLAYING, LEAVE THE
SECTION OUT OF THE CASE SO IT CAN AIR DRY AND GET IT TO A REPAIRMAN!

If I have clearly expressed myself and the reader can understand what I'm talking
about, I will have answered by Dave and HappiLeigh.

Best of Luck to you Leigh.

David Renaud wrote:

> A repair technican recently told me that filling with
> CA glue was now the repair of choice over pinning. Could others
> confirm this to be.
> Also, is it prefered to let a clarinet sit unplayed for some
> time that it my dry out, and the crack close somewhat
> before filling?
>
> Thank You
> Dave Renaud
>
> HappiLeigh125@-----.com wrote:
>
> > Hi... I'm very nervous cause i don't know whether or not whether or not this
> > can be repaired.
> > I noticed the other day that my clarinet has a crack. I bought it used for
> > $700 a few weeks ago, its a Buffet R13 from 1992. It wasn't there when i
> > bought it.
> > The crack is about a half an inch long on each side of a hole. I don't
> > think this is affected my sound, but i'm afraid it will get worse.
> > What can be done to fix this? can it be filled or something?
> > Thanks
>

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