Klarinet Archive - Posting 000076.txt from 2002/05

From: GrabnerWG@-----.com
Subj: Re: [kl] How Do I Clean A Bass Clarinet?
Date: Fri, 3 May 2002 00:50:57 -0400

Howard Shapiro asks about a recently purchased bass clarinet:

<< I'd like to clean it up a bit. What can I use to clean the bell, neck, mouthpiece and body of the clarinet? Also, can I safely polish the keys without doing any harm to the instrument?>>

You might laugh, but I have found windex very useful in removing the layers of greasy grime I have found on old bass clarinets.

As far as polishing, however, the only thing that will help you polish the keys is a buffing wheel. While working on the last several bass clarinets I overhauled, I stripped the keys, removed the pads and corks, washed the keys in windex, and then buffed each key carefully on the buffing wheel.

It is an ardous and boring task, only relieved by the results you can get if good metal was used in the first place.

If you're trying to "polish" the keys while they are still on the instrument, I think you are out of luck.

Anyone out there have a "miracle key polish"?

Walter Grabner
www.clarinetXpress.com
Mouthpieces, Repairs, Lessons

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