Klarinet Archive - Posting 000660.txt from 2003/09

From: Bill Hausmann <bhausmann1@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] When an old clarinet smells
Date: Wed, 24 Sep 2003 06:17:22 -0400

At 11:24 PM 9/23/2003 -0400, Nancy Buckman wrote:
>At 10:05 PM 9/23/2003 -0400, you wrote:
>
>> Be sure to DRY carefully, ESPECIALLY the springs. Blued steel springs
>> will rust in a heartbeat! In fact, a thin coat of oil on the springs is
>> a good idea after the bath, too.
>>
>>Bill Hausmann
>
>I don't agree on this one. Drying the springs well is all they
>need. Extra oil attracts dust and dirt and makes it difficult to remove
>when mixed with the oil. Also, as the oil ages it hardens and gets very
>sticky, creating another problem trying to remove it. Not all clarinets
>are sprung with blue steel springs. Adding oil to them is a waste of time
>and makes the clarinet hard to keep clean. Unless the clarinet is showing
>checks (small cracks on the surface of the instrument, usually in the
>bore), oiling is best left to the repairman. Excess oil causes more
>problems than it fixes. It doesn't take much to create an excess.

That's why I said THIN coat, as in "put a couple of drops of oil on a cloth
and wipe the springs with it." This provides just enough protection to
help repel water, the natural enemy of steel springs (not so important with
stainless steel springs, of course). Dirt is easier to get rid of than
rust. And since, before giving the bath, all keys have been removed, it is
the PERFECT time to give a full-body oil treatment. Coat the whole body
heavily, wait a couple of days, and wipe off the excess. Nothing could be
simpler and safer. The HARD part, removing the keys, has already been
done. The still HARDER part, putting them back ON, is still to come! In
fact, the oil from the body oiling process will be good enough for the
springs, too.

Bill Hausmann

If you have to mic a saxophone, the rest of the band is TOO LOUD!

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