 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: hmmmm
Date: 2001-11-02 04:43
Hello... So, I bought a metal clarinet off of Ebay (and it's actually pretty playable) and I'm looking to make it look nicer. Someone told me that its probably made out of tin and/or copper . . . does anyone have any suggestions as to how I can shine it up (without wearing it through)?
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Author: ron b
Date: 2001-11-02 05:37
Hi, hmmmm -
If it's a 'typical' metal horn it's probably nickel plate over brass. I truly doubt it's tin plate. Tin is too soft and expensive for the plating requirements of large metal instruments - not a good choice. The best method I've found for cleaning metal woodwinds without taking them apart is 'ragging'. This works best if you can stabilize the horn over a cloth wrapped wooden dowel secured in a solid bench vice, or something like that - you get the idea, hold it steady. **Be careful not to munch the register or thumb hole tubes inside the bore**. I've found that strips of cloth, about half an inch to an inch wide, a foot or so long, work pretty well. I like old T shirts, PJ's etc. 'Thread' a cloth strip (you can sorta twist it into a ropelike piece if you like), between posts, around keys etc. and work it vigorously back and forth. To stave off the monotony of this procedure, humming or whistling something like 'Chattanooga Shoe Shine Boy' works for me
For larger areas like the bell and mouthpiece end, just hand buff with a larger piece of folded cloth. Try to avoid snagging on springs and things. Although some folks like Silvo for stubborn spots, I prefer to avoid harsh cleaners. The plating won't hold up well to too rough handling. On Really Stubborn areas, I've used rotten stone or tooth powder ---sparingly--- with pretty good results.
- ron b -
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Author: willie
Date: 2001-11-03 00:06
Just be careful not to snag and bend those needle springs, or worse yet impale yourself on one. Don't use Silver Dip on it either. It has a mild acid that will eventually eat your springs (rust). I have a couple that are silver over brass, one that is brass Laquered with chrome keys, and an old Olds that is a mystery metal. Everything I've tried to shine it with just has no effect. At first glance it looks to be stainless steel but Happich semichrome won't even work. Have fun with it!
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Author: ron b
Date: 2001-11-03 00:30
Willie -
I have a metal Albert that may also be a ~mystery metal~. Might just be a high copper/ zinc content nickel silver... have no idea. It's light like aluminum, won't shine well ( has that stainless look and feel... sorta ), but takes silver solder very well. I know, a lot of metals can be silver soldered, that's no test. I've wondered if it might be some of the same material they were making violins with for a while. Yeah, metal violins :| - Needless to say, they had a much worse reputation than metal woodwinds. I can't imagine it and I've never seen one. During WWII when a lot of innovative experimentation was going on and metal this and metal that was being tried out a lot of crazy stuff was going on. Kinda like now I suppose.
- ron b -
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Author: Mark M
Date: 2001-11-03 04:42
Sounds kinda crazy, but one that I'm working on cleans up real nice with just plain ole key oil and cloth. Perhaps a Q-tip or two near the posts etc. This worked to loosen up all the dirt and help remove it.
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Author: willie
Date: 2001-11-03 05:05
Never saw a metal fiddle, Ron, but my uncle used to have an all metal string bass for out door gigs in the Hollywood area as the fog and dew there can do in a wooden bass. He later sold it to the bass player in Spike Jones' band who cut a door in the back. During one of his jazz solos, he would shake, slap, spin that bass then open the door and alley cats would come flying out onto the stage. Doing that nowadays would get you slammed by the SPCA.
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Author: ron b
Date: 2001-11-03 05:45
Willie -
Oh, man....
:]]] Thanks for sharing that) I saw Spike Jones mob, live, once way last century but I don't remember details now. There was so much going on I can't recall whether any cats erupted... could have.
A metal bull fiddle would certainly be a rare bird now.
Mark -
The oil probably keeps scratching to a minimum. Wish I'da thought o that :
I'll try it next time. Thanks for the tip. What do you use to clean the oil off?
- ron b -
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Author: Mark M
Date: 2001-11-04 06:55
Just use a good clean dry rag to soak it up. A little (microscopic) coat of oil left afterwards won't hurt anything and would help protect from moisture.
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Author: jim lande
Date: 2001-11-04 21:50
I have worked on a number of metal clarinets. Sometimes, what looks like tarnish is really accumulated crud, due in part to someone oiling keys early & often. That's good, since it can mean the screws aren't rusted. I don't think oil takes off much actual tarnish. I use Mrs Wright's paste type polish and the ragging/qtip method. And occasionally snap off or stick myself on springs. This all makes more sense when you are repadding.
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Author: Hiroshi
Date: 2001-11-06 05:10
Maybe you had better not shine up its inner surface.
Reason: I once read a Trombone book by Dennis Wick published by Oxford Press.
He recommends to pour in rotten milk into a new trombone to obtain a somewhat corroded inner surface! He insists that will make the sound darker and mild and a trombone sounds better and better when its inner lacuer peels off little by little. Maybe your horn's inner surface is at its best condition now.
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Author: cliff wilkinson
Date: 2002-09-03 06:01
I recently bought a one piece metal clarinet with "Oxford" and "Made in England" stamped on the bell. The "made in England" stamp is repeated on the upper end of the instrument, on the ligature and on the mouthpiece cover. It bears a number 64420. It is in fantastic shape and sounds good. If anyone has any info about the manufacturer or anything else of intrest about this clarinet, please let me know. I understand metals are rather out of favor and given that this one was acquired, quite inexpensively, at an estate sale, and that the previous owner was an acomplished, non professional musician; I assume that this is more of "student" type instrument. Any comments?
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