 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: awm34
Date: 2006-03-22 16:27
Any suggestions on how to glue a loose bell ring? Mine rotates fairly freely and it's somewhat annoying without adversely affecting tone.
Thanks!
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2006-03-22 16:36
I've put one droplet of superglue at every 120° on the joint side; as long as it's not a gel-type superglue it will sucked in between wood and metal immediately. Wipe excess away with a damp cloth.
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Ben
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Author: susieray
Date: 2006-03-22 16:53
Acckkkkk! Don't superglue it! All you need to do is humidify, and it will tighten back up nicely. Orange peels work great for this!
Sue
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2006-03-22 17:01
A few months the repairman from Selmer repaired a loose ring on my clarinet with glue and it took him about a few seconds. I don't think it is complicated.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2006-03-22 17:11
My Series 9 bell rings are loose and spinning freely - the humidity is down to 20% - roll on summer when it's 80% and everything tightens up again!
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Author: corks&pads
Date: 2006-03-22 23:40
I'll second susieray's comment. Although superglue is thin, even something like that can create a stress riser between the metal and the wood. As the wood expands (as it should in natural or artificial humid conditions), it won't be able to expand evenly around the whole ring, as it was when it was made.
The orange peel is a good idea. Even better, if the thing is dry, is a plastic 35 mm film canister or medicine container, with tiny holes drilled in the top, and a small piece of damp sponge placed inside. Put that inside your case and be patient.
When was the last time your instrument was oiled? Although I'm not promoting "The Doctor's" products (advertised here), you should look into his website. Be sure that you know how to oil it correctly, though.
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Author: jbutler ★2017
Date: 2006-03-23 00:21
First step is to hydrate as per above. That should solve the problem. Is this the lower bell ring (?) or the bell ring where the clarinet attaches to the lower joint? Sometimes the only way to get the lower bell ring tight is to use a ring press.
jbutler
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Author: rc_clarinetlady
Date: 2006-03-23 01:46
Orange peels........work like a charm.
Add the film cannister with holes and wet sponge if still needed but the orange peels are usually enough to do it. They smell great too. Don't resort to the super glue.
At least try to hydrate your instrument. Then consult a respected tech. for oiling recs. if you still have trouble. Luck to you. R
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2006-03-23 08:04
I've got some oboe reed tubes with holes drilled along one side, filled with a piece of kitchen roll (which holds the water) and these fit inside the joints.
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Author: DougR
Date: 2006-03-23 12:04
Having had my Selmer bass clarinet crack at the lower-joint tenon socket because of a loose ring, my advice is have a professional adjust the ring so it fits, then worry about humidifying, blah-blah-blah, later, PARTICULARLY if it's the upper (tenon) ring of the bell.
If it's the upper ring on the tenon socket that is loose, remember that the purpose of the ring is to keep the socket from splitting when the lower joint is pushed into it. I'd rather have the ring tightened professionally, and KNOW it's not going to loosen up regardless of humidity, than chance around with orange peels and medicine bottles with holes punched in them, and whatnot.
I DO humidify my cases, but my first line of defense (having had a clarinet actually CRACK) is to make sure the rings are tight under all circumstances.
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Author: saxlite
Date: 2006-03-23 14:13
I have used a thin coating of super-glue many times with good success. Just use capillary action to run the very thin liquid into the gap and immediately wipe the excess. Works like a charm; I have yet to see a problem.
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Author: awm34
Date: 2006-03-23 17:28
Thanks for all the suggestions. FYI, it's the ring at the bottom of the instrument. I'll first try humidifying it in the case and then, depending on the result, consider whether or not to apply glue.
Alan
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2006-03-23 22:38
I've just learned to live with it, nearly all my Selmers have loose bell rings (though the socket rings are tight).
They do tighten up in the summer - at the moment the humidity levels are down to around 20% what with the central heating on an' all that, but come summer the humidity is up to around 80% and everything tightens up.
Even though I'm not far from the coast the humidity isn't all that great.
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2006-03-23 22:55
> Even though I'm not far from the coast the humidity isn't all that great.
The problem is that 10°/50F cold air with 60% humidity from the outside will dry to 32% when 20°/68F warm inside the house. So a humidifier is a must during heating periods - not only for instruments.
--
Ben
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2006-03-24 01:05
Another option:
Use a finger (covered if you like) to force epoxy glue all around, through the small gap. Wipe off all excess. Then make sure the ring is positioned correctly while the epoxy sets. It works for me. Epoxy doesn't have quite the same brittle qualities that superglue has, and has less potential for a huge mess!
I can see a case for dealing with the problem, other than having to use a humidifier all the time. It depends what climate you live in.
After all, if the instrument had been manufactured in the climate in question, then the manufacturer would have installed the ring tighter. (I don't think a few microns difference in timber diameter at the end of the bell is going to affect the sound, but a vibrating ring is mighty annoying.)
Post Edited (2006-03-24 01:07)
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2006-03-24 10:47
It's only the European market Selmers of mine that the bell rings are loose - I've got an export model N-series Centered Tone and the bell ring is as tight as they get.
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Author: esther
Date: 2006-03-24 16:17
What do you do with the orange peels? I have never heard of this... Lemme know!!!
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2006-03-24 17:16
Put them and your clarinet bell in a sealed plastic bag (a freezer bag will be ideal) until the bell ring is tight again.
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Author: susieray
Date: 2006-03-24 17:26
I have had older bells crack as a result of putting them in a plastic bag with too many orange peels. I would be really careful to add just a small bit of peel, so the humidity level is not too high and the wood does not swell too fast.
It may be safer to add orange peels to the case, and put a piece inside the bell. The case lining acts as a buffer so the moisture level is not too high and too sudden a change.
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2006-03-26 08:50
1. The oil that one can squeeze from an orange peel quickly turns polystyrene foam to slush. Therefore I would suspect that the vapours from the oil may have the potential to damage polystyrene foam over time. So I be a little cautious about using orange peel in a case whose lining includes polystyrene foam.
Note that ABS plastic is also styrene based. I vaguely wonder if it, too, could be molecularly damaged by orange oil.
2. My experience suggests that some organic oils accelerate the corrosion of nickel plating. I don't know if this includes orange oil.
Just be aware, that orange oil is not an inert material.
BTW I think the following is worth reading:
http://www.doctorsprod.com/BoreDr.html
For heaps more technical backup for these statements, do a forum search on words like Omar, bore oil, or just look for posts by Omar Henderson.
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