 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Elise L.
Date: 1999-02-26 11:26
Hey everyone!
Yesterday, I purchased a used Eb Soprano clarinet, and I tried to put it together. The cork was really tough, so I used cork grease very liberally, and put it together. The barrel was a bit tough to put on, but it went on ok, and I really didn't have to force it. The bell went on and came off fine. My problem is with the barrel. I refuses to come off, and it is presenting a problem. My hands are all marked up from trying to get it off, at the same time trying not to damage the clarinet. Any ideas on removing it safely? I'm at a loss. Also, I was wondering if anyone had any idea about the brand name on my clarinet. It is a Fontaine, wood, and the wood on the middle joint is swirled with a dark maroon color, along with the regular black wood. It is really subtle, and I've never heard of it before. Can someone shed some light on this, and the quality of the brand? Thanks a lot!
EliseL1383@aol.com
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Author: paul
Date: 1999-02-26 13:20
Elise,
try keeping the clarinet in a dry room for a few days and don't play it. Wood swells when the moisture content increases and will slowly shrink as the air dries it out and hopefully allow you to seperate the sections. Don't force it and once it does seperate maybe use some fine sand paper on the cork to get a better fit.
Good luck.
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 1999-02-26 14:24
Elise L. wrote:
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My problem is with the barrel. I refuses to come off, and it is presenting a problem. My hands are all marked up from trying to get it off, at the same time trying not to damage the clarinet. Any ideas on removing it safely?
Elise -
What usually causes this problem is that the barrel socket has shrunk and is binding on the wood at the top of the tenon. You have to get the barrel off right away, since the metal ring on the bottom of the barrel will prevent any expansion, and the tenon will crack.
The first thing to try is to get more leverage and protect your hand by wrapping a wash cloth around the barrel. If you still can't get it off, you should take the instrument to a repair shop immediately.
It's important to tell the repair person not to file down the wood at the top of the tenon. Everything should be adjusted by reaming out the socket at the bottom of the barrel. The critical area is all the way at the inner end of the socket, where it binds on the wood at the tip of the tenon.
Good luck.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Albert
Date: 1999-02-26 23:53
My and director told if, if that happens, to stick the clarinet in the freezer for a couple of seconds. I'm not sure if this in dangerous and I never did it. Anyoneelse think of this as a good idea. It may reduce the swelling, but it might crack or something.
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Author: Melissa
Date: 1999-02-27 14:06
Ok, this will be in stupid terms, but it might be useful. My clarinet did the same thing when I first got it. If you want to know, it was a Selmer Omega. I used a lot of cork grease on it, thinking that was the problem, but it wasn't. To get the barrel off, I held the barrel, and my friend held the other part, and we would gently twist in opposite directions, putting as little force on the clarinet as possible. Eventually, it got easier and easier to take off. But, since it was new, the wood that went in the barrel (I don't know all these cool intelligent terms everyone else knows) had swollen a little, and my barrel would not go in all the way, causing me to play flat. So, if your clarinet is like mine, and that starts happening, you might want them to sand the wood under the cork (of the thing that goes into the barrel). It will go on and come off easier.
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