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Re: Stuck hinge tube screw

Author: Chris P
Date: 2009-02-17 22:31

If you can tell where the bend is, try to bend the key barrel back by tapping it with a mallet and a piece of wood so it doesn't harm the plating, or if it's been bent from the upper side, try to lever it upwards (but you risk ripping the pillars from the joint!).

But both these methods can cause the screw thread to break off in the pillar which isn't as bad a problem as you may think as chances are the thread is loose in the pillar and that should be easy to remove once you manage to get the key and opposing pillar off.

The problem is getting the key off as you need to turn the pillar anti-clockwise to undo it. And as it's the cross Eb/Bb key, the shape of the key and how it's mounted won't let you do this as the pad cup and key touch wrap around the joint. Much easier with speaker keys or trill keys as they're cross mounted (run across the joint), but keys mounted laterally will be a pain and may need to be cut free with a fine piercing saw.

Doing that will increase the gap between the key barrel and pillars, and this key is most likely one that can't be swaged due to how the key pieces are soldered on leaving very little or no key barrel at either end for you to get your swaging pliers around.

To be honest, this key isn't the most ideal one to have been bent (accidents do happen) as it's the trickiest one to tackle with regards to removing and straightening it out. Another option is to find an identical clarinet (Evette, B12 or E11) with a broken middle tenon but with all the keys still otr mostly there, and use it as a donor instrument. Cut the key off the good clarinet, remove the remainder of the pillars from the joint and then transplant the key and pillars from the donor one onto it.

Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010

Independent Woodwind Repair Specialist
Oboes, Clarinets and Saxes
NOT A MEMBER OF N.A.M.I.R.

The opinions I express are my own.

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