Klarinet Archive - Posting 000671.txt from 2003/09

From: GrabnerWG@-----.com
Subj: Re: [kl] When an old clarinet smells
Date: Wed, 24 Sep 2003 12:25:52 -0400

I have never used water to clean a dirty wood clarinet. To me, water is THE ENEMY. Some of the worst damage I have seen to clarinets has been caused by too much moisture. Frozen hinge rods and pivot screws, springs rusted away to nothing. Warped, dried out bore.....etc.......

If I have a really dirty clarinet, I will use swabs,bore brush, Q-tips and pipe cleaners moistened with alcohol to remove the worst of the dirt. Following that I give it a thorough soaking in Almond Oil. I'll leave it in the oil "wrap", checking it daily, until the wood stops absorbing oil. That's visually very easy to tell. During the process, the oil loosens any remaining exterior or interior crud, so it can be removed without harsh scrubbing, which could potentially damage the instrument.

I don't "oil" springs. When I keep the existing springs, I coat them lightly in a special grease I have. This grease has an anticorrosive in it that really adds to the life of the spring. And no, I don't know where to get it, I was given a "lifetime supply" by the man who taught me so much about repair.

I also use this grease on hinge rods when I reassemble. The best thing is that it never seems to clog or harden like so many key oils do.

Walter Grabner
www.clarinetxpress.com

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