Klarinet Archive - Posting 000103.txt from 2009/12

From: Jim & Joyce <lande_family@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] repairing cracks in the bell.
Date: Sun, 20 Dec 2009 20:25:46 -0500


>> I have a long crack in the bell joint of my older Buffet clarinet.
Can I repair this by glue? Supperglue?

Al Gray in Medicine Hat, Alberta

I don't know which technique is superior but pressing the crack together (super glue approach) means compressing wood -- which could make future cracking more likely.

Given that this is the bell, the repair technique probably won't effect your intonation. In college, I slipped and ended up with two cracks in the bell large enough that you could see through them. The only thing that held the bell together was the metal rings -- it is fortunately that the bell had rings top & bottom. The cracks were large enough that the bottom two notes in each register played badly--almost as badly as if you played without a bell. I covered the cracks with fiberglass tape, mostly on the outside, but wrapping over the bottom of the bell and back inside for an inch or two. It held together and I couldn't tell any difference in tone. You can do better than this, but if you do it yourself, you might not.

Jim Lande

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