Klarinet Archive - Posting 000032.txt from 2001/05

From: "Dee D. Hays" <deehays@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Cracking clarinets
Date: Wed, 2 May 2001 05:18:31 -0400

----- Original Message -----
From: <Joshua460@-----.com>
Subject: Re: [kl] Cracking clarinets

> After reading all the posts about cracking and its causes, I discussed the
> matter with my physics professor and UK. He told me that the cracking is
> most likely to be a result of an internal stress. I once read an article
> about an oboist or repairman (I can't remember) who cut an oboe joint into
> two pieces and allowed them to soak in oil for 6 months. The oil only
> penetrated about 1 mm. If this is true, how could moisture be a
significant
> factor? Wouldn't moisture only be a long term effect, simply because of
the
> qualities of the wood? My professor also mentioned that the keywork and
the
> actual machining process of the wood will contribute weaknesses in the
wood,
> in addition to its natural flaws, therefore no clarinet is "flawless."
One
> can only conclude that the internal stress due to extreme thermal cycling
> will overcome the weakest area(s) of the clarinet; usually the upper trill
> keys and the register key. Just an insight.

Please bear in mind that the thermal cycling and thermal gradients that
clarinets, oboes, etc see are in no way extreme.

Also while it is probably true that no instrument is flawless, by focusing
on that cause we can research to see if it is the true casue, set about
developing procedures to find natural flaws and assess their degree of
severity (sorting where necessary) and developing manufacturing procedures
to minimize the creation of flaws in the manufacturing process.

Dee Hays
Michigan

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