 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Paul Wusow
Date: 1999-02-18 01:25
This is the first time I have ever had a clarinet crack. I take very good care of the wooden instruments (humidify, oil, etc.). Can anyone tell me if a pin will affect the playability of the instrument? (The crack is not opened, and not through any tone holes. It is visable running from the bottom of the upper tenon down about an inch--on the upper joint...) I am having it pinned to keep it from opening... Any comments? Thanks!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Mark P.
Date: 1999-02-18 02:28
You shouldn't notice any difference. I've been playing my Selmer 9 star for years with 2 pins and a flush band. No one notices.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Dee
Date: 1999-02-18 02:29
Paul so long as the craftsman is reasonably good, a pin is just fine. It should not affect the playability or tone of the instrument in anyway.
You see, my primary clarinet is a Leblanc Symphonie II (a pro model from the 1950's) that I bought used when I was in high school in the 1960's. In its previous life it had cracked and been pinned. I bought it because it played great and sounded gorgeous. It still sounds great today according to my companions in the community bands to which I have belonged.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Paul Wusow
Date: 1999-02-18 02:50
Thanks!! I feel better now. Tim Burdick in Cleveland is doing the work (he repairs all of my woodwinds...)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Greg
Date: 1999-02-18 03:10
Hi all,
I hear all this talk of instruments being pinned.
What exactly is that, and what is a pin? Also, a term I heard used long ago is "flush banding" What
do they mean by that term?
Thanks for any info.
Greg
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Paul Wusow
Date: 1999-02-18 04:17
When a jointed is "pinnes" that means that the crack in the wood has been "fastened together". In other words, a hole is drilled through the crack perpendicularly (between the bore and the outer surface of the clarinet). A pin wire (a threaded heavy gague wire)is drawn through the holes (pulling the crack together) and the ends of the wires are cut off and filed down. The holes are covered with epoxy, and depending on the repairmn, virtually invisible. The pinning prevents the crack from opening up or traveling any further.
Banding is when metal bands (some other materials may be used too) are placed around the joint that is cracked. Again, pulling the crack together and keeping it from opening up.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Mark Charette
Date: 1999-02-18 12:20
Paul Wusow wrote:
<br>-------------------------------
<br>When a jointed is "pinnes" that means that the crack in the wood has been "fastened together". In other words, a hole is drilled through the crack perpendicularly (between the bore and the outer surface of the clarinet). A pin wire (a threaded heavy gague wire)is drawn through the holes (pulling the crack together) and the ends of the wires are cut off and filed down.
<br>----
<br>The pins are really thin threaded screws. They made need to use more than one to close the crack.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Rick2
Date: 1999-02-18 15:14
Mark, The Erick Brand repair manual describes using threaded wire for pinning, and Feree's sells the threaded wire. I didn't notice any screws for pinning last time I paged through the catalog, howerer, I wasn't looking for it either. Just wanted to back up the statement that threaded wire is used.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Doug
Date: 1999-02-18 15:20
A little history: flush banding is the older way of repairing a crack, pinning the present preferred way. As
you have noted, pinning is virtually invisible and does not
affect the instrument in any way except the crack closure.
Flush banding, however, is not well advised anymore. It is
not only very visually obvious (there is now another "ring"
on the instrument) there may be enough pressure on the wood
to change the size of the bore at the point of the ring,
causing response and sound problems. A crack at the top
tenon of the top joint is often caused by playing the
instrument before it is fully warmed to room temperature.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Mark Charette
Date: 1999-02-18 17:54
Rick2 wrote:
-------------------------------
Mark, The Erick Brand repair manual describes using threaded wire for pinning, and Feree's sells the threaded wire. I didn't notice any screws for pinning last time I paged through the catalog, howerer, I wasn't looking for it either. Just wanted to back up the statement that threaded wire is used.
---
Rick2, I've only seen one crack being repaired, and it was done with a couple of very slender screws - I wathed the repairman drill a very small hole in 2 places after he got the crack to swell shut, put the screws in the holes, and turn them in with a screwdriver. He then melted a bit of an old vinyl LP (!) to fill the hole and wiped it flush with his finger.
I had never heard of the threaded wire. I'm sure you're right with threaded wire, too. Learn something new every day!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Paul Wusow
Date: 1999-02-18 19:07
Well... Tim Burdick said the repair will take two pins... He also said judging by the location of the crack, it was probably due to dropping the joint (which I did a few months ago--and it seemed fine). He said there sould not be any difference in playability because the crack is closed. Well, it get it back next week! Thanks for the info everyone!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Paul Wusow
Date: 1999-02-18 20:50
... and if it's any help, Tim Burdick showed me the "threaded wire" that will be used for this repair. He also said that it would take two pins to keep it from traveling, but it is not uncommon for one pin to hold a crack together. One pin does result in two small holes on either side of the crack...
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Rick2`
Date: 1999-02-20 18:39
The pin CAN be put in with only one hole, but it isn't recommended. The second hole is to allow the shavings from the threads to drop out instead of being compacted inside the hole.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Rick2
Date: 1999-02-20 18:40
Mark,
What did he use to melt the LP vinyl and how did he get it into the hole?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Mark Charette
Date: 1999-02-20 19:03
Rick2 wrote:
-------------------------------
What did he use to melt the LP vinyl and how did he get it into the hole?
---
Alchohol lamp, dripped onto a knife blade, and then smooshed across the little hole. Then wet his finger and wiped it across.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
