Klarinet Archive - Posting 000535.txt from 2004/06

From: Bill Hausmann <bhausmann1@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Relocating keys..
Date: Wed, 30 Jun 2004 23:10:49 -0400

At 09:45 AM 7/1/2004 +1000, Umar Goldeli wrote:
> > The keys are silver-soldered together. Heat would be the method of choice
> > to separate them.
>
>Just out of curiosity though - is silver soldering that much stronger than
>standard soldering as used on circuit boards? Just looking at the keys and
>the joint between them and the rod - since there's a lot of leverage, this
>joint would have to be obscenely strong..
>
>(I've done lots of "normal" soldering, arc welding, mig welding etc, but
>never any silver soldering.. Google says that apparantly a propane torch
>is used in the process and an oxy torch can sometimes be used as well
>suggesting that the heat is *much* higher than standard soldering - so is
>it closer to welding? Does the item being soldered actually melt too or
>just the donor rod/solder stick? Surely a propane torch can't melt the
>keys on a clarinet right?)

Yes, it does require much more heat (1100 to 1600 degrees F.) than lead/tin
solder (300-400 degrees F.) and makes a much stronger joint. One of the
problems with trying to repair cheap clarinets is that the keys are made of
cast metal, rather than forged nickel silver. They DO, in fact, melt when
you try to silver solder them, and soft lead solder will not do the job.

Bill Hausmann

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

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