 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: ron b
Date: 2004-10-30 05:23
Not exactly a new topic but I would appreciate experience/advice on this trivial subject. I recently gave my son a CSO (made in a far away country, familiar sounding name) because he asked if I had something he could turn into a lamp for his 'new' apartment. He bought a lamp kit: socket, bracket, cord - no center rod, just the cord. His question to me is what to use to fasten the bell to the stained wood base. I know some glues are better than others, plastic to wood, but I've never done this kind of project. I'm hoping others here may have and can pass along a tip or two.
- r![[cool]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/cool.gif) n b -
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Author: Ralph Katz
Date: 2004-10-30 12:09
I used lamp rod for my lamp. Call it foolishperhaps, but I am predisposed against drilling, gluing, cutting, or otherwise altering instruments I make into lamps. Even for the skunkiest of offshore instruments.
If the instrument is wood, the oil and other stuff used to treat the wood will interfere with the glue. If the instrument is plastic, there is no telling which glue will stick to the bell and the wood base both.
Best to use the tubular threaded lamp rod, and attach it through a hole in the base. You might have to drill a relief hole for a washer and nut. Use a socket/switch/harp combination that will attach directly to the lamp rod. Find a washer that will fit inside the top socket of the clarinet barrel, and lock things on top with two lamp rod nuts. It will be very secure.
Regards,
|-(8^)
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Author: Jim E.
Date: 2004-10-31 05:13
Yes, Use the rod, actuslly 1/8 I.P. lamp pipe. Buy a piece of the fully threaded variety, longer than you need. Thread a nut onto it past the cut point, cut the pipe with a hacksaw (12-14 TPI blade is good) and then back the nut off the cut end, use pliers or a wrench. This will repair any damaged threads.
If you use wooden or self stick plastic leg pads on the base, you will have clearance for the nut and wire coming through.
You may need to remove the register key tube to clear the pipe.
Pipe, nuts, harp, plastic leg pads etc. availble at Lowes/ Depot, or a good hardware store as well as many on-line sources.
A Clarinet makes a tall lamp, a short harp is likely best. If too tall for the situation, eliminate the barrel, drill a hole the size of the pipe in a 1 inch or so copper plumbing cap, fit that over the upper joint tennon, and attach the harp and socket there.
If the base isn't fairly large and heavy, the lamp will be "tippy."
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Author: Rick Williams
Date: 2004-10-31 13:51
Make it four votes. The problem you can run into with glue is if the base shifts dimensionally with the weather it may end up cracking either the bell or base or breaking the glue line. A rod is the only way to go.
Best
Rick
Best
Rick
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Author: msloss
Date: 2004-10-31 20:55
What brand of lightbulb do you plan to use and what wattage? I myself prefer Sylvania in a 60-watt. Fairly good consistency out of the box and projects well, although they don't last as long as GEs. I know many people are recommending compact fluorescent bulbs now because they last forever, but I find them to be very cold and lacking in character.
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Author: Don Poulsen
Date: 2004-11-01 15:33
The problems with clarinet lamps are that (1) you have to have to try out an entire case of bulbs to find the right one and (2) there is always a great temptation to buy a new socket that someone else recommends. I'd suggest using an ultraviolet bulb to get that "darker" light that most people prefer. I'd also suggest not using cheap Chinese-made clarinets because it is nearly impossible to display the light at the right frequency over the spectrum of the lamp. Clarinet lamps are preferable to sax or flute lamps in that light that doesn't use vibrato is more restful on the eyes. (Don't forget to swab with an antistatic cloth after each use to remove any electrons that may have accumulated in the bore.)
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Author: Todd W.
Date: 2004-11-02 17:33
And having this lamp in your practice room will be a reminder to your regular clarinet of what can happen if it doesn't play sweetly and in tune.
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