Klarinet Archive - Posting 000014.txt from 2006/02

From: o4rmondtoby@-----.net (Ormondtoby Montoya)
Subj: Re: [kl] cork grease
Date: Wed, 01 Feb 2006 13:32:21 -0500

Kurt wrote:

> [....] "Only grease a little for the first month
> and after that once per year."

Kurt, several people have posted similar comments, but doesn't this
leave the most important variable out of the discussion?

Namely, how carefully does the person clean the tenons after playing?
Does any normal 'grease' (whichever lube a person chooses to use)
actually affect cork or glue? Or is the damage caused by the bacteria,
fungi, protozoans, enzymes, digestive acids, etc which accumulate in
'gunk' that isn't cleaned away after each session? Wouldn't uncleaned
cork rot or fall apart no matter how often you did or didn't use more
lube?

If your corks are fitted such that you don't need to lubricate, and
therefore you can assemble and disassemble without tearing the cork
apart, that's fine. But if you feel that you need lubricant before
every session, I believe that your cork will be OK if you wipe it clean
with a soft cloth after every session. And if you don't do the
cleaning, your cork will harden or rot or crumble or release (or
whatever) no matter what lubrication you do or don't do.

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