Klarinet Archive - Posting 000723.txt from 2003/04

From: GrabnerWG@-----.com
Subj: [kl] Tolerances - Was Necks and barrels
Date: Sat, 26 Apr 2003 00:40:59 -0400

Based on my earlier post about tolerances, I went down to my workshop to check my tools.

One of the measurements made by mouthpiece technicians every day, is the point where the facing first leaves the flat plan of the table. This is done using a feeler gauge of .0015 inch, or .038 mm.

Facings are done every day where this very very thin gauge (it flops like a piece of paper) stops at a carefully defined point.

I then measured this gauge with my Vernier caliper, and yes, it measured exactly .038 mm.

People who make mouthpieces, barrels, and instruments work within these tolerances every day.

Now, if I took the thickness of this gauge out of any barrel I have working right now, it would destroy the intonation pattern of my clarinet, especially in the placement of the 12ths.

Now, sometimes you WANT to change the pattern of the 12ths. Suppose your above the staff A, B, and C were flat, but your tuning notes were in tune. You might try opening the lowest 1/3 of your barrel bore .01 to .02 mm, to see if it corrects the situation.

Talk about NOT using power tools, this amounts to one maybe two turns of a reamer, no more.

We are talking about the minutest adjustments here, best done, amazingly, by hand.

Walter
www.clarinetxpress.com
mouthpieces, barrels, repairs

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