The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: john gibson
Date: 2003-05-22 03:19
wobbling joints. I'm in Arizona....so maybe its the "dry heat", but I have to replace cork on my tenons about six times a year. Middle joint.....upper/barrel tennon......MPCs......
Got any suggestions outside teflon tape? This is getting expensive.....
HELPPPPPPPPPPPP!!!!!!!!!!!!!
John
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: sfalexi
Date: 2003-05-22 03:23
Dryness could be it. As for how to fix it, I hope The Doctor shows up. I just have this funny feeling that he'll be able to prescribe a good treatment for that problem.
alexi
US Army Japan Band
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: madvax
Date: 2003-05-22 03:32
john Gibson wrote:
> but I have to replace cork on my tenons about six times a year
This may sound obvious, but have you tried humidifying the case. For example, placing a damp sponge or orange peels in a plastic bag and leaving the bag open.
If all else fails, perhaps you can try a synthetic cork.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2003-05-22 10:38
Living in an extremely dry environment and playing a clarinet are tough. You really have to keep the relative humidity above 40-50% even though this is a struggle and requires added moisture in the case or environmental conditions that are humidified. If you keep the cork impregnated with a lubricant that also retains moisture it helps too. Petroleum cork grease will actually accelerate the loss of water from cork because it displaces the natural moisture in the cork. To remain supple, compressible, and tight fitting cork must have moisture in the cell walls. Case humidifiers will help but require constant attention in low RH situations. My prescription is to move to Cape Cod for your clarinet's health.
The Doctor
The Doctor
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2003-05-22 10:46
I wonder if installing a metal tenon cap and liner (in the receiver end) would be feasible?
Are there synthetic corks available to make the seal?
Some of the prior threads mention an automotive gasket sheet that could be adapted for the same purpose.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: BobD
Date: 2003-05-22 14:13
Why don't you consider doing your own recorking? Or, why not consider wrapping your tenons(yourself!) with string? I do both and actually find that I prefer string wrapping for more than one reason. String wrapping does allow one to vary the outside diameter of the wrap from the end of the tenon to its junction with the body thus allowing for variation in inside diameter of the socket.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Don Berger
Date: 2003-05-22 16:09
As mentioned before, storing my best sop cls in the bathroom, R H 55-60, has solved my loose-ring, dryness problem. Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2003-05-22 16:16
Don Berger wrote:
> As mentioned before, storing my best sop cls in the bathroom, R
> H 55-60, has solved my loose-ring, dryness problem. Don
Now we know who's going to need Febreeze for their case!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2003-05-22 16:46
Eeyeuw...
And MY off-color stuff gets deleted?
* anyway *
these ARE wind instruments, after all.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Don Berger
Date: 2003-05-22 17:38
Now-Now fellas, a long way from "thrones" , large BR, good ventilation and has a small "pool'.
Thanx, Mark, Don
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Don Berger
Date: 2003-05-22 20:14
HOW, where, do you find these, GBK?? Vunderbahr! Our, 1 of 3, BATHroom has an octagonal, 7 ft across flats, "tub", which only our smaller grandkids really like, takes a great volume of warm/hot water to fill!!! I use it with table/chair as a home-office and store said cls there. Nuff, too-much?, said. Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Clarinetpunk
Date: 2003-05-22 21:07
That is reall interesting...i live in Arizona as well and i have yet to replace the cork on my tennons. Perhaps it is the type of cork grease you are using, OR it could be the type of cork that is being used. Working in a music store and being rather comfortable around our shop i have seen some really awful cork, as well as premium cork that is very good quality.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Vytas
Date: 2003-05-23 01:25
John,
I'm afraid your wobbling clarinet joints have nothing to do with the cork. Cork on the tenon is not for that purpose anyway. I believe your tenons are worn/sanded off and have to be rebuilt.
Try this: when you assemble clarinet push joints until you reach the cork and stop. Check for free-play. There should be very very little movement sideways.
Vytas
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: john gibson
Date: 2003-05-23 01:49
Lots of good info.....thanks guys.....
Now....how do i tell good cork from bad? Type of cork grease I'm using is a natural lanolin based cream. Is that good or bad? Only use the petroleum type in a pinch. What about those film cannisters with a bit of wet sponge and holes in the lid? Again thanks to you all.....
John
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: john gibson
Date: 2003-05-23 01:49
Lots of good info.....thanks guys.....
Now....how do i tell good cork from bad? Type of cork grease I'm using is a natural lanolin based cream. Is that good or bad? Only use the petroleum type in a pinch. What about those film cannisters with a bit of wet sponge and holes in the lid? Again thanks to you all.....
John
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2003-05-23 02:03
You may be killing your cork with lanolin. There have been several posts about using lanolin. IMHO cork (which is wood) needs plant derived preservative with lubrication. Animal based fats and petroleum based cork grease will cause the cork cell walls to fracture and collapse over time. Your situation seems extreme and may be shrinkage of the wood due to the low humidity through time or worn out tenon sockets. I am not a repair person so their diagnosis should be sought.
The Doctor
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: diz
Date: 2003-05-23 02:08
I'm thoroughly tired of wobbly joints too ... but in my case it's because I'm more than half way through life's little journey and things are just starting to break down: teeth, eyes, bones ... gosh retirements's gonna be fun
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Peter Spriggs
Date: 2003-05-23 12:38
John,
When I was studying repair with Hans Moennig, I was shown a little procedure which corrects your problem. Instead of putting the cork only in the groove made for it, also make it wide enough to go over the shoulders on both sides of the groove & then sand until it fits together tightly. Putting cork on the shoulders fills up the space that allows the wobbling.
Peter
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Wayne Thompson
Date: 2003-05-23 15:04
Along the line of what Peter Spriggs suggested.... there are tricks with super glue or nail polish on the tenon that don't involve the cork. Do a search on 'wobble'.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
|