Klarinet Archive - Posting 000033.txt from 2007/08

From: "Clark W Fobes" <claroneman@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] Wood as a "living" material and Barrels for Selmer and Rossi clarinets
Date: Wed, 08 Aug 2007 15:40:36 -0400

Dear friends,

I have followed a bit of the thread on wood. A member who seems to be
quite informed about Wurlitzer clarinets believes that wood "stretches like
a rubber band" when machined and must be allowed to rest back to shape.

From my experience this is a bit incorrect. In the case of African
Blackwood we can hold very fine tolerances as we machine material. Within a
few days the wood will begin to change with the grain as some of the tension
within the wood has been released. This apparently occurs even with wood
that is well aged. A perfectly concentric tenon becomes ovoid or "egg"
shaped after just a few days. The more material that is removed at one time
the effect becomes more pronounced.

To counter this phenomenon we machine our barrel blanks many months to
a year ahead of the finish date. The raw blanks are bored through and then
tenons are rough bored to 0.020" under the finish dimension. Over 6 months
to a year these blanks with continue to dry and change. This slow, natural
process allows the wood to relax and change about as much as is possible.
Once the barrel is machined from this state we can measure very little
change in the following weeks or months. Generally, the barrels sit another
3 to 6 months before I make the final hand ream, play test and then ship
them.

I also wanted to make a quick post to tell everyone that I am now making
barrels for the Selmer Signature and Rossi clarinets.

I understand the replacement barrels for the Selmer Signature clarinets
are quite difficult to come by. These have a special taper that required
manufacturing a new reamer. I can accommodate Bb and A clarinets 61-65 mm in
half millimeter increments.

The Ross clarinets also require shorter barrels due to the length of the
upper joint. I can provide barrels for these instruments from 61-65mm as
well. I do have a few 60mm barrels. The Rossi C clarinets can be played with
my standard C barrels.

One final note. I am now making Eb clarinet barrels in half mm
increments 41-43mm

Thanks!

Clark W Fobes - Clarinet & Saxophone products
www.clarkwfobes.com

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