Klarinet Archive - Posting 000354.txt from 2006/03

From: Bill Hausmann <bhausmann1@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Loose tenon rings
Date: Sun, 19 Mar 2006 19:19:09 -0500

At 11:45 AM 3/19/2006 -0800, Chris Ciarlariello wrote:
>The metal rings around the tenons on my clarinet have
>recently become very loose. Is this a serious
>problem, and if so, what can I do to fix this problem
>or is it something that must be done professionally?
>Any help would be greatly appreciated!
>Thanks,

Your wood is shrinking, probably due to dry conditions, common during the
winter heating season (my bell ring tends to get loose in the winter, but
tightens again every summer). The tenon rings can be either shimmed or
shrunken (DO NOT GLUE!!!) very easily by a certified repair tech. You
don't want to OVERTIGHTEN them, because that would put much stress on the
wood if and when it begins to expand again. In the meantime, though, the
tenon rings, which are designed to support the thin wood of the delicate
tenon sockets, are not able to do their job while loose and the risk of a
cracked tenon is high. Get it checked ASAP. It is not an expensive fix,
but a broken tenon socket IS!

Bill Hausmann

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

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