Klarinet Archive - Posting 000106.txt from 2004/01

From: "Veranda Restaurant" <rkw@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Cracks, cracks
Date: Sun, 4 Jan 2004 04:32:57 -0500

Hello everyone,
very interesting commentary on cracks. I wonder if anyone has any input
about allowing the clarinet to reclose on its own , under the correct
humidity and then pinning?
Rw
----- Original Message -----
From: <mginesi@-----.net>
To: <klarinet@-----.org>
Sent: Saturday, January 03, 2004 8:35 PM
Subject: Re: [kl] Cracks, cracks

> i have always used very small diameter threaded rods for crack repair.
with
> the advent of 'super glues', this addition to the process helps recreate
> a 'healed' portion of the wound...much like calcium deposits in the area
of a
> bone break...but a rod is essential for lasting repair.
>
> remember grenadilla [and rosewood and ebony]cellular structure contain an
oil
> [part of its marelous properties] that helps to preserve and protect the
> wood. it will also in due time diminish the holding power of superglue to
the
> interior crack walls. one may or may not experience a recracking in the
same
> area. it is possible for the clarinet to be abused, or quite simply
handled
> well and still crack in an area adjacent to the previous repair. [not
> unusual] a threaded rods installed in proper fashion [ at an angle of
approx
> 45 degrees to the bore line and in opposition to each other i.e. /]
> will reduce the possibility of this occurance.
>
> the nature of wood is that it will expand and contract - it will
> breathe...be it in a clarinet an oboe or a violin...the inherent qualities
of
> each species of wood is special and can be utilized for instruments by
virtue
> of those qualities...
> as for clarinets...we all know better than to take our instruments from
hot
> to cold/cold to hot withput preparations and care. one should never
assebble
> the clarinet with loose tenon rings as contraction has occured...the
> instrument must be warmed to the ambient temperature for prudent assembly.
>
> the cellular structure of the wood used for stringed instruments is quite
> different from clarinet and oboes. different densities, etc ...the
resonance
> properties are different and not intended to be similar. the instruments
> resonate in dissimilar fashion. the body of the violin, viola, cello, etc
> will vibrate as strings are played. The top, especially will vibrate with
a
> characteristic patterns in specific areas of the face developing for each
> individual tone played. these vibrations excite the air within the body
and
> help to project the sound.
>
> in the clarinet. the vibration of the reed excites the air within the air
> bore. the vibration of the body is secondary. many of you know the
remainder
> of the sound travel.
>
> if the crack is large and has expanded the bore of the clarinet and it is
not
> reduced...intonation problems can develop. many minute cracks do not
distort
> the bore [initially] so this may not present itself. one of the reasons
hans
> moennig steamed the wood to close a crack was to restore the inner bore;
the
> diameter, the surface, etc. pinning then closes all gaps. [however the
> adjacent areas may then still display inevitable weaknesses.]
>
> one relatively successful method;
> super glue to the interior of a crack...closure of a interior surface area
> [via a light clamping], pinning with at least two pins; exterior
application
> of glue and fine grenadilla dust will make an effective repair and will be
> viturally undetectable if done well.
> this works for small cracks - not through a tone hole. [this is another
> process as well]
>
> knowing this group but for a short time... there will be many that not
only
> disagree but have totally opposite points of view in this matter...
> this is good if something positive results for the clarinetist with the
> cracked instrument!
>
> michael
> > Some interesting and good replies on this cracking subject. I still am
curious
> > about the gluing of cracked stringed instruments though. Are there less
> > opposing forces at work? Is it a more stable crack on a violin? I
highly doubt
> > it. Why have glues been used exclusively for this purpose? I would
think
> > fixing a crack on a violin, when the crack is almost always through the
body
> > completely would be more sensitive to expansion/contraction. I never
said
> > gluing was the end all be all for clarinet crack repair. If the crack
gets
> > bigger or open, I will surely get it pinned.
> >
> > As to Tony's post, if the crack is on the surface and NOT into the
bore... how
> > is the bore affected by the crack? I do not know. A bore could easily
warp
> > without ever cracking as well. Until there are plenty of facts, not
opinions
> > abound about this topic, I don't appreciate being told I "do not know
what I
> > speak of". I am just comparing ideas and gathering facts for an
interesting
> > topic. Well, interesting to me anyway! :) BTW... I never said because
the
> > reapair "looks pretty' that it was a great repair job. That would be
foolish.
> > So don't put those words in my mouth either, please. It was a good job
from
> > what I can tell... and time tells all. I had a couple clarinets with
pins that
> > opened up and recracked elsewhere. Maybe I have the death touch for
cracking.
> > lol I do take all necessary precautions to avoid it in case anyone is
> > wondering.
> >
> > I'd love to get some pro repair guys and gals in on this topic to see
what they
> > use for cracks. The most reliable sources would be ones who have worked
on
> > countless clarinets. They could speak of results. No opinions, just
facts.
> >
> > Frank
> >
> > ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> > Klarinet is a service of Woodwind.Org, Inc. http://www.woodwind.org
> >
>
>
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> Klarinet is a service of Woodwind.Org, Inc. http://www.woodwind.org
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