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Re: cork shrinkage....what to do?

Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2003-04-07 21:31

1. Are you leaving the clarinet disassembled when not in use, so that the cork has a chance to 'recover'?

2. Are you using an unsuitable cork grease? Almost every product on the market is unsuitable. Some attack the structure of the cork, such that it loses its resilience. Some dry to leave a thick layer between the cork and the tenon socket, hence squashing the cork far more than it needs to be squashed when the joints are assembled. (another writer suggested paraffin wax for sealing. IMHO this does the same thing) Use Doctor's Products. These are excellent greases and seal appropriately.

3. Are you sure it is the cork? Most wobbly conditions are caused by too much difference between the diameter of the tenon TIMBER and the diameter of the socket. The difference should be no more than about 0.16 mm (0.006") I solve this by fitting silver caps to either or both ends of the tenon.

4. Is your technician fitting the corks too loosely - perhaps a result of matching to an in inappropriate cork grease. This needs experienced judgement in that before the grease is first applied, the joint should be almost impossible to assemble. After the grease is first applied it is difficult to remove more cork.

5. Is the tenon cork groove very deep - over say 1 mm? In this case a layer (say 0.5 mm) of far less resilient material should be glued on before the cork is. I use agglomerated cork (also called Hycotex, Rubco, Gummycork, Techcork, etc) Otherwise natural cork has too much 'give' for this application.

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