 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2006-01-18 20:35
Had a phone call with my godfather. Being an M.D. by trade there's a lot of an engineer in him (where did I hear that before), and he's interested in everything that technically moves. Told him I bought a clarinet. He then
<WARNING: CRUEL THREAD>
told me a story of an acquaintance of him who imported hardwood from Africa to Europe; the bigger/better bits were sold for instruments, the lesser parts he kept and shipped them by the waggon home where he used them as firewood.
So that godfather of mine inquired, as it would be a pity to burn such fine wood, if he could trade part of it in against some ordinary beech wood and keep the ebony for manufacturing things such as replacement handles for antique household items and things like that.
Now he has a sizeable amount of hardwood bits and I am very tempted to ask him if he'd like to lathe a barrel for me (modelled after the one I already have, but a millimeter or two longer, instead of tuning rings or pulling).
Imagine that. Firewood.
--
Ben
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Author: Alseg
Date: 2006-01-18 21:03
Sounds good....fire some off to me.
Sorry to burst your bubble, but:
Unfortunately, if something is too good to be true, it isn't true.
I have a basement full of bits of m'pingo and grenadilla.
Much of it looks superficially like Prestige or Signature quality wood.
Put it on a well-tuned lathe with mirror-sharpened Scorby tools .....and you had best be wearing a welding visor and a good insurance plan.....It is full of defects, dried out and dessicated, and produces black dust and shards.
This is the problem with many blackwoods. The good stuff is reserved for the big boys (methinks), so be wary.
I have spent $36 for a piddling 2inchx2inchx12 inch billet that wound up as burnishing material. It took me a year to find a dealer I can trust, and even that is not foolproof.
Oh well, I have the most luxurious toothpicks and hor d'oerve serving sticks in town.
Former creator of CUSTOM CLARINET TUNING BARRELS by DR. ALLAN SEGAL
-Where the Sound Matters Most(tm)-
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2006-01-18 21:30
Thanks for the warning. I guess we'll try one and see how it looks.
If it doesn't work out, so what. If all fails, we venture into the toothpick business. Or make q-tips with wooden sticks. For stylish tone hole degunking.
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Ben
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Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2006-01-19 01:14
A classic joke often heard from attendees at the Oklahoma Clarinet Symposium getting back to the dorm after a marvelous concert by a famous clarinetist -- "What is that awful smell ??????? (other than the dorm rooms) -- answer -- people burning their clarinets in disgust at their own playing abilities"
Anyway, on a more academic note - however not specifically on topic - has anyone ever thought, considered, or have any experience working with Ipe wood as an alternative wood for making instruments or parts = barrels? It seems to have the abundance, natural oil resisting moisture content, density and hardness - just wondering?
L. Omar Henderson
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Author: Alseg
Date: 2006-01-19 04:09
Sounds like it tools like hard maple which is deadly on turning tools....it must also weigh a ton (look at chart) BUT I wouldnt mind trying it.
Former creator of CUSTOM CLARINET TUNING BARRELS by DR. ALLAN SEGAL
-Where the Sound Matters Most(tm)-
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2006-01-19 11:51
It was used as ballast in cargo ships due to the density, and rumour has it B&H used to buy it in bulk from the docks.
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2006-01-19 16:09
I got 2 5/4 x 6 x 8-foot slabs of ipe from my son.
I could not work it with my conventional power and hand tools --except for sandpaper.
Ben, remember, its the INSIDE of the barrell that makes the difference: taper, taper(s), bore size, ...
Bob Phillips
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Author: Ralph Katz
Date: 2006-01-22 01:47
Someone I know in Ypsilanti, Michigan, cut down three large black walnut trees and burned the wood in his fireplace. I am out of touch with wood prices, but I guess about $50,000 of wood went up in smoke. "They were my trees and I used them as I saw fit," he said. "Besides, they were blocking my view."
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Author: Alseg
Date: 2006-01-22 13:06
What a waste. Walnut is such a super wood for furniture. No stain needed. Some Danish oil, natural of course, and the finish is lustrous.
There is an "old codger" located on a country road about 10 miles from me who rough-cuts felled timber and old joists (some are mahogany) and air dries them. His health is poor, and he recently had a clotted leg artery that he neglected for 24 hrs. I spent the night declotting, bypassing his artery, and had to do a decompression of the muscles to save his leg (fasciotomy).
After a long rehab, he is finally able to sell me wood again. Wonder if I will get a discount?
Ahhhh cherry and walnut....recipe for a great Sundae.
Former creator of CUSTOM CLARINET TUNING BARRELS by DR. ALLAN SEGAL
-Where the Sound Matters Most(tm)-
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Author: Ralph Katz
Date: 2006-01-23 01:17
This is a bulletin board and lets be contentious. Ha!
Not all Walnut is that great. A lot of it, especially stuff in a lot of commercial lumber yards today, will take some fairly extensive treatment to get it to look uniform. Heartwood and sapwood can look radically different in color and figure, but a lot of people want a uniform look in their furniture. Personally I think that the irregular look is just fine, but people are allowed to have their own tastes. There was an article in Fine Woodworking about finishing walnut to deal with just these problems a couple of months ago.
Still, this guy burning that wood made me tremendously sad.
Regards
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