 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Aussie Nick
Date: 2003-05-19 08:34
Ok, usually I gently pull my silk pull-through (swab) back and fowarth through my mouthpiece (not all the way through) to clean it after playing. Every now and then however, if the swab isn't drying up all the moisture, I'll pull it all the way through. I was just wondering if this is a bad thing to do. It doesn't seem to cause any damage, and if I thought it was causing any I would stop doing it.
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2003-05-19 10:19
My guess is that after doing this every day for a couple of hundred years the may be enough wear to affect something.
The enzymes from your saliva are probably far more damaging.
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Author: Morrigan
Date: 2003-05-19 11:40
I tried not to get involved in this one because everyone questions what I do with my mpc, and now I'm noticing (and regretting) it.
My teacher taught me never to clean my mpc, just leave it all wet and put it away. That way, you don't swab it and it has no wear. But, you're right, your saliva is much more dangerous than a silk swab!
I'm buying a Greg Smith mpc tomorrow, should I swab this one instead of leaving it? The reason I'm buying it is because my current Larry Combs has warped and isn't playing so well anymore!
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Author: jce
Date: 2003-05-19 12:04
Finding a good crystal mouthpiece will solve this problem completely. They don’t warp from swabbing or cleaning and they look impressive.
Best regards,
John Elison
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Author: BobD
Date: 2003-05-19 12:25
I have never experienced warpage of a mp but considering the fact that the plastic and rubber ones are molded I could believe that stress relief over time could cause it. I suppose wood ones could warp too.
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Author: Brenda
Date: 2003-05-19 13:34
You could try simply cleaning out the mouthpiece with a tissue. Wind up the tissue diagonally and gently twist an end into the top, then the bottom of the mouthpiece. It's far gentler than a swab, and you don't have to leave a wet mouthpiece in your case to mold. A tissue can easily be thrown back into your case for a couple of times until you're ready to use a fresh one.
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Author: Matt Locker
Date: 2003-05-19 15:14
Brenda:
I think you're wrong - a tissue (paper) will be much more damaging to a mouthpiece than any silk swab will be. Tissues are made of wood fibers. One should never clean glass with tissues, paper towels, etc as it will leave scratches in its wake. Now just think what it will do to your treasured mpc!
MOO,
Matt
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2003-05-19 17:43
Silk is pretty abrasive when it's wet. I pull mine about halfway through, rock it gently back and forth, and then pull it out backwards.
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Author: Benni
Date: 2003-05-19 17:45
I swab my mpc, but I would never use tissue on it for the same reason Matt stated! They always tell me at the optician's not to clean my glasses with tissue - I did for about a year with one pair I had and ended up having to get replacement lenses before my prescription changed because of all the scratches.
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Author: jez
Date: 2003-05-19 22:37
As, I think, someone commented recently, if you've worked on mouthpieces and know how hard you have to work with a file or abrasive paper to remove any detectable material, it's hard to believe that a swab could do much damage. On the other hand, silk is famous for being stronger than steel. Maybe cotton is kinder.
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Author: Henry
Date: 2003-05-19 22:44
I have my own doubts about the supposed superiority of silk. I believe that cotton picks up moisture more rapidly and completely.
Henry
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2003-05-19 23:03
How about just vigorously shaking the mouthpiece side to side in hopes that centrifugal force will make the excess spit fly out of it? That's what I do with my clarinet joints (since I don't have a swab). A few quick flicks of the hand sends the excess gobs of spit outta there (don't do this near a person though).
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2003-05-20 01:09
Henry, I too have vound silk rather unabsorbent, but I have been reassured in this forum that it is OK if the dressing is washed well out of it.
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Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2003-05-20 01:29
My own views on a couple of the comments (disclaimer - I sell silk swabs, mothpiece cleaner, and MP bags) - All silk is not alike. Many commercial silk fabrics are treated with a "sizing" chemical solution when the fabric is used in the garment industry. This treatment reduces the absorbency of silk fabric in the short term. My testing indicates that this chemical treatment has not been removed from several popular silk swabs on the market. There are several types of silk surface characteristics accomplished in the weaving, and different types of silk fiber used - natural or mulberry leaf diet of the silk worm. My own experience dictates that I remove the sizing chemicals and use a fabric of the heavy charmeuse type (not silk handkerchief or scarf material) that has a shiny surface and an absorbent satin crape reverse surface. The combination of removing sizing by pretreatment, silk fiber type, and heavy silk fabric thickness measured in MM (not millimeters but a Japanese fabric measurement scale) yields a swab that is at least 1.5 times more absorbent than a cotton swab of the same size. Several other quality commercial silk swabs are also more absorbent than cotton in my tests. Silk, due to the tiny fiber size, smoothness, and proper weave has less friction than cotton and dries more quickly than cotton. A silk swab, properly serged with a rolled hem on the sides will not leave any lint like a cotton swab.
IMHO you do not need to ever put any object in your MP. If you rinse out your mouthpiece with plain cool tap water after each use you will remove most mineral deposit forming agents, generally remove any organic materials (remnants of the candy bar that you had just before practice) and most bacteria and mold. The remaining water can just be blown out from the cork tenon side of the mouthpiece and tiny remaining moisture will evaporate before the next use. I keep my mouthpiece in a moisture permeable protective bag. Depending on you local moisture situation you may want the moisture in the case anyway, and if high relative humidity is your lot then any damp mouthpiece should not be stored with the horn. Unless you are a mineral deposit building type person you do not need a stronger cleaning solution except in a long term regular maintenance schedule or if you wish to clean an old MP or sanitize it.
The Doctor
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Author: jim lande
Date: 2003-05-20 01:54
Vis moisture in the case, like most folks, I swab the instrument and then leave the swab in the case. The moisture is still in the case, just removed from the inside of the horn & mouthpiece. Since I play a metal clarinet, I don't worry much about water being absorbed in the wood. Why do I swab at all? Minerals & such are easier to wash out of a swab than out of the bore. Also, I think the pads MIGHT last longer if they have less water right on them.
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Author: CPW
Date: 2003-05-20 03:08
Q-tips anyone?
Disclaimer: I do not own the Q-tips corporation nor stock in its parent company.
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Author: Kes
Date: 2003-05-20 03:16
Tissues! AHHHH! Think of the lint blobs! *shudders at the thought* Nothing like spitty lint blobs to leave your mark on the music room floor! Hehe. I don't like using tissues because of the fibers they use. But occasionally I will use them (not very often though) to clean out the very cracks in the mouthpiece that a regular swab can't get. Make sure you don't use the kind with lotion though...
Just my little opinions!
____________________
"I speak reedish. Long live the language of the clarinetist!"
_________________
-kes
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Author: Morrigan
Date: 2003-05-20 09:59
Where do you keep a silk swab when not in use? Obviously in the case somewhere, but what's best for the swab AND the instrument?
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Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2003-05-20 10:40
It of course depends on your style of case. Many will have an outside pocket which is separate from the interior. I carry way too many accessories, which I consider necessary but of course they are not really crucial, to keep in the interior of the case. Since we have a large humidity problem here in the South East U.S. many players will not keep their damp swabs inside the case with the horn. I guess that it was just training or "monkey see, monkey do" for me just to fold the swab over on itself a couple of times and neatly wrap the cord around this package for storing. Holding the weighted end and flicking with a flourish will unfurl the whole swab and keep the cord straight and untangled. I wash, in a special detergent (Woolite will do), the silk swab monthly during the course of the year.
The Doctor
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2003-05-20 13:03
Trust the Doctor to have such thorough information on silk and its use for swabs. Most impressive!
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