Klarinet Archive - Posting 000113.txt from 2004/01

From: "Sue Raycraft" <raycraft@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Cracks, cracks
Date: Sun, 4 Jan 2004 12:19:25 -0500

> The warming that Sue mentions is one factor, but a bigger one is moisture.

I forgot to mention that, even though I was thinking it. It wasn't a
very thorough in my explanation.... moisture of course will cause
wood to swell. Moist, warm air will do it even faster. I watched
my clarinet crack almost in front of my eyes, even though I do
not play it cold and I swab it out frequently. The first crack was
a fairly long one; it just kept wanting to get worse and went right
through two tone holes, although not all the way through to the bore
(thank goodness.)

No sooner did I have that one pinned, than it began to develop
another crack nearby, maybe an inch or so away. Very frustrating.
It was almost like the Incredible Hulk was in there, trying to burst
through Bruce Banner's clothes! A lot of force is involved...the inside
wants to expand faster than the outside so it just has to give,
wherever the weakest spot in the woodgrain happens to be I guess....

I also play fiddle so I have a *small* amount of experience with
violins and there is just no comparison as far as what is causing
the cracks. It's a whole different thing. There's no Hulk inside
the violin trying to get out!

Sue

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