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Attempting a mini-overhaul

Author: sfalexi
Date: 2003-04-06 22:25

Not so much repair, as a cleaning up of my older clarinet. A René Duval clarinet from God knows when. It hasn't been used in about 30+ years. It's looking pretty nasty. I took off all the keys and separated them in two cups (upper joint/lower joint). They are getting green and white (I'm assuming this is what people mean by "tarnished"). The pads are in HORRIBLE shape as well, but I figured I may as well learn and practice some cleaning/repair skills on this clarinet.

I was wondering what is a safe thing to use to clean the keys up a bit (the nickel plating). I thought alcohol might be too rough so maybe I'll go the typical soap/water or a metal polishing compound. After I clean off all the keys, I'm going to clean off the screws that hold them, wipe down the wood, oil the bore and wood (carefully, following instructions I looked up with a search).

By the time I get all this done, it'll have been about three - four weeks with my schedule of free time and I'll have saved some money for a padding kit and I'll give it a shot at "repadding" the keys as I put them back on.

This sound ok so far? And what to clean/wipe the keys and wood with?

Alexi

PS - I know I could save the agravation and send it to a pro, however I am a VERY hands on learner and I love hands on projects like this, so I really want to try it. Plus it'll give me practice so I can apply these skills better when my own clarinet breaks or needs new pads, etc.

US Army Japan Band

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