 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Britbrit
Date: 2004-05-31 20:38
I have a crack in the top part of my clarinet which runs from the upper register key upwards. It does not appear to go through to the inner wall of the bore (cos' vaccuum in the bore seems good) I'd like to repair it for unsightliness and do a good job . Any ideas, materials, methods etc.
many thanks
P.S. many thanks for all the tips on recorking cos my clarinet (a very old one brought back to life) now sounds very much better.
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Author: RAMman
Date: 2004-05-31 20:43
Erm,
I had the same crack...which didn't go through to the bore.
However, it actually went right through the register key tone hole, and a bit further, masked by the register key.
My advice is to check this hasn't happened...it's easy to miss. With any crack, get it professionally looked at, and pinned or filled, it will only get bigger!
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Author: Avie
Date: 2004-06-01 14:10
Although every cracked clarinet is a unique situation unfortunately you will not get many new responses concerning your particular problem. The search area of the BB doesnt cover all situations. If it isnt causing any tone or intonation problems i wouldnt have it repaired until you feel it becomes necessary. A repaired clarinet dosent look any better and can cause stress and cracks in other areas of the clarinet.
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Author: OpusII
Date: 2004-06-01 14:25
Avumba,
Quote:
A repaired clarinet dosent look any better
When it's done by a good repairman, you couldn't tell that the clarinet was repaired unless you knew it....
Eddy
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-06-01 14:31
I would say keep an eye on it. Maybe you can very subtly mark off how wide the crack is with a slight tick on the wood or just hold a paper next to it and check to see how wide/long it is and mark the paper. Then see if it spreads. It may not spread anymore and you may be done with it. But if it continues to open up, then definitely have it checked out.
My old clarinet had a very long crack in the bell from the tenon down to halfway. However it never went through to the bore, and never elongated itself and so I played it as is. Since yours is on the UJ where there's a lot of moisture and temp changes running through the clarinet every time you breath, it would probably be MORE likely to continue spreading. So keep an eye on it.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Avie
Date: 2004-06-01 16:14
OpusII,
I agree that if it is repaired to blend in with the rest of the clarinet that would be ideal and is the way it should be done but with no guaranty that it will. If by chance the repair is not visual to the naked eye which i doubt then it is of course its up to the owner to sell it as a repaired clarinet if and when it is sold.
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Author: mw
Date: 2004-06-01 16:39
Eddy is correct.
In many cases, the repair is NOT noticeable in comparison to an instrument that never has had a crack. Of course, it depends on WHERE the crack occurs & the ensuing modification(s).
Rather than wait (I'll assume the person asking the query here isn't an expert in dealing with cracks) immediately go see someone who has experience in dealing with it.
Cracks that travel to a tonehole or the bore are different from cracks that don't.
The following is my opinion based upon a fair number of situations where invasive action was taken to pin ---- IF POSSIBLE, more & more I prefer to deal with cracks in an non-invasive manner. I really believe that some cracks when pinned create & present a pressure that will cause an offsetting 2nd crack to the 1st.
However, I have far less experience with graphite banding repairs, where I have never seen another crack (YET) occur. We have been involved with 5 or 6 clarinets that have received the latter type of repair.
IMO, the graphite band repair if done neatly & allowing for where it occurs, is more noticeable than a pin repair.
Post Edited (2004-06-01 19:44)
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Author: RAMman
Date: 2004-06-01 19:02
I had my crack (see above...) repaired by an excellent tecnhician, and although I can tell, nobody else can.
It needed 3 pins, I cannot believe the advice of 'keep an eye on it'!
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Author: mw
Date: 2004-06-01 19:56
Interesting that some say: that the proper number of pins to be used is 1 pin per .5" while other says 1 pin per 1" and others yet again say it depends WHERE the pins are to be inserted into the wood.
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Author: RAMman
Date: 2004-06-01 20:04
lol MW, I have no idea, I just let them get on with it!!
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2004-06-01 21:51
"..I really believe that some cracks when pinned create & present a pressure that will cause an offsetting 2nd crack to the 1st...."
Although this is theoretically correct, in practice, after pinning many cracks, I have never seen it happen. Perhpas this is because the first crack adequately relieves the excessive tension in the timber.
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Author: mw
Date: 2004-06-02 00:02
Gordon said:
"Although this is theoretically correct, in practice, after pinning many cracks, I have never seen it happen. Perhpas this is because the first crack adequately relieves the excessive tension in the timber."
-----------------------------------
Oh, certainly I would agree with that. Conversely others may have just run into a spate of bad luck? Who knows?
.... ONY THE WOOD GODS, I suppose !
It seems to me entirely possible that the Graphite Banding repair may distribute pressure (subsequently) introduced into the wood MORE EVENLY. However, I have nothing to back that statement up with. Nothing more than visual observation.
Post Edited (2004-06-02 00:11)
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