 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: bobmester
Date: 2003-07-23 13:32
Before I put on your special cork grease, is there a way to remove the old cork grease without damaging the cork?
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Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2003-07-23 13:40
I am not a repair technician and they may have their own favorite products and formulations (some interesting ones have been mentioned in the recent thread on using gun oil on cork). I use a 50/50 mixture of drug store rubbing alcohol (70% isopropyl alcohol) with water and a terry cotton wash cloth (my wife keeps wondering where all the wash cloths have disappeared to). The terry cotton has enough roughness to get into many nooks and crannies and the alcohol will dissolve the petroleum based cork grease. Alcohol at this dilution will not harm plastic horns.
The Doctor
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Author: Mark Pinner
Date: 2003-07-23 22:07
Methylated spirits works fine but rub don't soak. Same effect as isopropyl and cheaper. There are a few other tricks I have seen used. A small amount of kerosene also works as does diesel although you have to clean off the residue. I don't bother with these latter methds personally but I have seen other repairers use them. The diesel actually cleans the cork, especially sax necks, and makes them look newer. I wouldn't recommend any DIY types using these methods. Stick to the alchohol.
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2003-07-24 11:05
there are definitely solvents which dissolve, or even shatter some plastics.
I have never had a problem with a tissue moistened with Mobil's "Pegasol AA" - thousands of cleanings over many years - so I stick to that in fear of shattering a clarinet tenon with something different.
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Author: BobD
Date: 2003-07-24 15:13
Years ago I owned a Hudson with a cork clutch. The clutch mechanism was immersed in kerosene so that's what I use for cleaning tenon corks now. But sure don't soak them,however.
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Author: Mark Pinner
Date: 2003-07-25 07:20
Kerosene does not have any undue effect on ABS, hard rubber or wood or for that matter cork. The diesel trick was shown to me by an old repairer who has been in the business for over 40 years. Don't soak anything for too long.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2003-07-25 13:12
From the standpoint of chemical composition, I'd suggest using the colorless "charcoal fire starter" rather than kerosene. The former is [usually] odorless "heavy alkylate" , paraffinic hydrocarbons of the C12-20's range, where kerosene may contain "heavy" aromatic HC's, certainly alkyl-aromatics/naphthenes, generally having higher solvent-power, color and odor than "alkylate, and is less available. I use it, at least as a first [trial] solvent, to remove glue residues etc, partic. on wood or plastic clarinets/saxes etc. Solvents of higher "solvent-power" present inhalation hazards, some very dangerous. Lower molecular weight solvents [gasoline, ethers, acetones] also present severe fire hazards. TAKE CARE in use. Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: bobmester
Date: 2003-07-25 16:50
Just for the record, Doc's suggestion of Rubbing Alcohol and water 50/50 worked just fine, even without using a washcloth. And his new lube works great.
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Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2003-07-25 20:12
(Disclaimer - I sell a cork cleaner designated for repair technicians) As I indicate, as often as possible, that the true answers lie with the experts and those experienced at woodwind repair. They have years of experience at successful repair practices. I have addressed some of the concerns about using Volatile Organic Compounds >VOC's< (which should always be used in a well ventillated area and with known health risks) with the substitution of a class of new solvents derived from citrus fruit (chemical = d,limonene and other citrus terpene compounds). They make excellent petroleum solvents at lower concentrations and have less health risks for technicians and may prove to be successful alternatives.
The Doctor
Post Edited (2003-07-25 20:51)
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2003-07-26 02:25
Citrus cleaner, or indeed a squirt of oil from bending an orange peel does a 'vanishing act' (well actually a softening which collapses the foam) on polystyrene foam.
I imagine the fumes from it after using it on a clarinet may well soften polystyrene lining if it is used in a case.
Do you know if it potentially does damage to any other polymers.
So much I know I don't know!
Post Edited (2003-07-26 02:26)
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Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2003-07-26 10:38
The citrus cleaners on the market (that I have tested at least) contain citrus terpene content (some unspecified) such as d, limonene. These products are not to be used on expanded polymer foams because they will soften them - too concentrated and they will melt them. At low concentrations they work well as solvents for petroleum based greases and oils depending on the actual citrus terpene used and certain ones will not attack crosslinked polymers and ABS such as used in clarinet bodies. Again, you must know what your product contains and use caution that the manufacturer has tested it for the application specified for use. Many of the citrus "miracle" cleaners contain unrefined mixtures of terpenes which give a "shotgun" approach at dissolving many types of crud. For specific uses the individual chemical compounds, with know reactivities, should be used. When I use the term citrus terpene I mean a specific refined entity and, pardon my generalizations previously, not the entire spectrum of citrus terpenes found in raw extracts from citrus rind.
The Doctor
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2003-07-26 12:34
I should have known you had all this analysed to protect us from ourselves!Just like a doctor, sparing the patient the gory details until he gets nosy.
Impressed as always.
Gordon
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