The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Clarinet Geek
Date: 2005-07-11 20:40
Hello. After 12 years or so of silence, I finally dragged my old Buffet E11 out of the closet, and am starting to play again. It's so much fun. My question: I peeled the mouthpiece cushion off the mouthpiece (it was cracked and starting to come off anyway), but now I have this residue I need to clean off before replacing the cushion. What sort of cleaner can I use to get this stuff off, without harming the mouthpiece? I've tried a bit of dishsoap and water, and baby oil, without much success. Any suggesions?
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2005-07-11 21:00
Nail polish remover (acetone) followed IMMEDIATELY by dish soap and warm water to remove the acetone before it discolors the mouthpiece.
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Author: Clarinet Geek
Date: 2005-07-11 22:25
Thanks for the suggestions so far. I'll try a bit of nail polish, and maybe rubbing alchohol, too. Actually, I bet I'll have to get a new mouthpiece anyway (this one is a Vandoren 5RV--but 16 years old-- 3 years in use, 13 in non-use). I don't see any teethmarks on the mouthpiece, so maybe I could use for a few years yet as a back-up.
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2005-07-11 22:29
I would not expect alcohol to help much at all with this type of glue.
I have found the 'lighter fluid' type of solvent range to be successful - far more successful than alcohol. Also, from my experience, it is far less likely than acetone to attack/dissolve polmer materials. The particular type I use (Mobil's Pegasol AA) has caused no problem with any plastics that I am aware of.
Omar possibly has something technical to say on this topic. :-)
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-07-11 23:44
I'll wager that it's the "clear type" patch instead of the black patch.
They leave a residue, the black ones typically don't.
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2005-07-11 23:47
Try WD-40. Keep if off the corks and mechanism. Its great for removing those stubborn price tags, too.
Bob Phillips
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Author: Clarinet Geek
Date: 2005-07-12 00:37
I believe it was a black cushion--although I do not remember what company. After 16 years--its bound to leave a residue--which it did.
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Author: idahofats
Date: 2005-07-12 00:40
Another possible solvent of a mild nature: butter or oleo. With a little rubbing, the grease will penetrate even hardened pine tar, and is immediately soluble in dishwashing liquid. "I can't believe it's not WD40!"
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Author: Alseg
Date: 2005-07-12 02:12
Olive oil
Use Olive oil infused with truffles and send me the unused portion.
I use Dermabond skin adhesive (SuperGlue for use on people, made more costly due to product liability coverage) as a skin closure for surgery. After a few weeks it begins to flake. Olive oil works dandy in helping it come off.
Former creator of CUSTOM CLARINET TUNING BARRELS by DR. ALLAN SEGAL
-Where the Sound Matters Most(tm)-
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Author: BobD
Date: 2005-07-12 14:25
Sometimes this works for me: Remove any previously tried liquids....get it dry. Then take a piece of transparent packaging tape or "Scotch tape" and press it down firmly and then quickly "snap" it off. Repeat this procedure while moving to a new area of the tape as the gunk comes off. The trick is in jerking the tape quickly and being patient.
Bob Draznik
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Author: Clarinet Geek
Date: 2005-07-12 18:27
Thanks for alll the advice. I used the acetone/nail polish remover--and it worked great. Now I have some (and some more ideas) for the next time I have to remove a cushion. Thanks everyone!!
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Author: cujo
Date: 2005-07-12 20:15
I thought it was not a good idea to put alcohol or solvents on rubber.
The green Sanimist brass instrument mouthpiece cleaner directly says: caution contains alcohol, do not use on rubber mouthpieces.
Its just sticky residue, a little rubbing off with your thumb should work well. It cant be any different than the sticky stuff ive rubbed off glass and plastic.
Olive oil or similar natural stuff I guess might work, but at least it wont damage chemical structure of rubber.
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2005-07-13 05:33
1. Superglue is very different from the sort of glue used for mouthpiece patches. However I would not expect olive oil to do much harm to a mouthpiece.
2. Hard rubber is a type of 'plastic'. I would EXPECT nail polish remover to attack a wide range of plastics. It is DESIGNED for attacking plastic. It would definitely attack at least come mouthpieces. Experience has taught me not to use such aggressive solvents (including acetone) on ANY plastics unless I want the surface to be attacked.
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Author: ron b
Date: 2005-07-13 06:43
Hold it! Back up! Stop right there!!!
Everybody count your change... there's been a big mistake!!!
Please, Clarinet Geek, DO NOT use nail polish remover (acetone) on Any clarinet mouthpiece. It acts as a very strong and fast acting solvent, especially to plastics. You're likely to be instantaneously unhappy with the result.
I've been told that alcohol is bad for some plastics as well, just slower acting. So, why take chances?
I've been using Goof Off for those *really stubborn* sticky residue spots quite successfully for years, as a "last resort". Wipe a little on, wait a few seconds and wipe the surface clean as a whistle. But first, if you have a trumpeter friend, a little valve oil will often do the trick. I'd try that first. Other suggestions above (oils, tape-pull etc.) are good ones as well... but,
REPEAT: Acetone can be disasterous to your mouthpiece :(
- rn b -
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2005-07-13 11:30
It's true that acetone can wrecka mouthpiece, but I've used nail polish remover successfully to remove old mouthpiece patches several times on flea market instruments, without causing damage. The key is what David Speigelthal wrote:
>Nail polish remover (acetone) followed IMMEDIATELY by dish soap and warm water to remove the acetone before it discolors the mouthpiece.>
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
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Author: Clarinet Geek
Date: 2005-07-13 14:13
Hello again. Thanks for all the advice--I did use a bit of nail polish remover to get the residue off--immediately followed by soap and water, and a really good scrubbing with the mouthpiece brush. The mouthpiece appears to be fine. But, I'll be sure to be careful in future about what I put on my mouthpiece. Thanks again, y'all.
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