Klarinet Archive - Posting 000332.txt from 2002/12

From: "Leslie Schultz" <mewsic-ls@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] WOO HOO!
Date: Fri, 13 Dec 2002 10:06:00 -0500

I'm certainly not an expert in this field, but from what I understand, it
also has much to do with how the wood interacts with the different
components of the clarinet (metal tenons, keys, etc.). It is true that wood
has a very low rate of thermal expansion and clarinet made entirely of wood
without metal or plastic pieces integrated into it would probably be
relatively stable. However, wood expands at a much slower rate than metal,
and when metal rods expand and contract, this stress will frequently crack
the wood, regardless of its coefficient of thermal expansion. This is why
most cracks you will see are between two metal posts. I hope this is
helpful.

> Actually if you calculate the forces generated in wood by thermal
expansion
> and contraction, they are insufficient to crack the wood unless of course
> the wood has an unseen flaw. In which case it will crack sooner or later
> regardless of the thermal effects.

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