Klarinet Archive - Posting 000132.txt from 2004/02

From: "Forest Aten" <forestaten@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Loose bell rings
Date: Wed, 11 Feb 2004 12:55:34 -0500

> As the winter drags on and indoor humidity levels continue to be so low,
just
> about every clarinet I see has a loose ring at the bottom of the bell.
>
> Does anybody out there have a good way to tighten these without using a
> banding press and a bell ring die set? Frankly, using these things scare
the devil
> out of me!
>
> Walter Grabner
> www.clarinetXpress.com
> New Jazz/Klezmer mouthpiece now on eBay
>

Walter,

You are always perfect with your timing. Keeping these rings snug is very
important. A loose ring can certainly be the cause of a crack in the tenon
area of a clarinet.

The best thing to do is to use paper shims. Try to get the "right" thickness
of paper so that you can run the paper around the entire diameter of the
tenon and still press on the ring with only moderate force. No ten ton
gorilla needed here. You want to have even distribution when you press the
ring back onto the piece. Just before you have the ring pressed flush, use a
single edge razorblade and trim the paper in the gap. Finish pressing the
ring on and then run your razor around the inside of the ring at the top of
the joint. It's clean and does the job great. You do have to take a little
time finding the right thickness for your paper. To thick and it makes it
difficult (and risky) when you press the ring on....

This is a task that ever clarinet player can accomplish. One more note. The
rings often have a top and bottom to them. The diameter is often not the
same at the top of the ring as at the bottom. Be careful to look for a taper
and then carefully fit the ring on the clarinet to insure the correct
attitude. I can't tell you how many clarinets come to me with rings forced
on upside down.

Forest Aten

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