 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Rick2
Date: 1999-03-05 05:33
I've finally received my pads and I've started overhauling the A clarinet I bought off ebay. I have a coupole of questions for the sneezy resident repair folks.
1) Wrap-around register key: What's the best way to seat this pad? The cup comes over the tone hole at an angle, in other words, the pad sort of comes at the hole from the side and almost slides into place when you release the register key. The skin pad seems to be a bit thick (I know that cork or leather pads are preferred but I have none right now).
2) I discovered a five inch crack in this instrument that goes through the higher post holding in the register key. This crack has three pins. The problem is that whoever pinned it did a terrible aesthetic job. There are big craters that are sort-of filled with some kind of puddy, and the crack wasn't filled at all. There are sandpaper marks all around, and some of the work (if you can call it that) was covered up with black spray paint. (a) What is the recommended way of filling the pin holes? (b) Can this joint be stripped and refinished, or at least sanded down and refinished where the problems are? What would I use?
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Author: Connie
Date: 1999-03-06 01:44
Is it really worth all the trouble you are going through just to repair it? What kind of clarinet is it anyway?
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Author: Rick2
Date: 1999-03-06 04:00
Connie,
It's worth the trouble for a number of reasons:
1) I want to train myself to repair woodwinds so I don't have to rely on somebody else to do it for me, and so that I have a low-stress trade after I retire from engineering.
2) I like working with my hands. Better to learn on this than on my good Leblanc.
3) I get a clarinet in the key of A for dirt cheap (under $150 including shipping). The notes I could get out of it have great tone.
4) To prove to my wife (the constant skeptic) that I can do it.
5) So I can use it.
6) I simply want to do it.
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Author: Donn
Date: 1999-03-06 13:53
Ferree's catalog has a "Hot Stuff Glue and Grenadilla chip
kit for making various repairs on cracks and pin holes.
P. 57 in their catalog. Includes instructions. Their catalog very informative.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 1999-03-06 21:39
Welcome to the club, Rick , you have enumerated well the reasons why I "mess around" with cl repairs. You will find [as I have] that even the best repairpersons cannot spend the time, that we will, to cure small "problems" which remain. With me, even on my best horns, I consider my capabilities [and point-of-no-return] before seeking more competent repair. Its a learning process, keep it up! Don
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Author: Lelia
Date: 1999-03-08 01:25
Please keep us posted on how the repair work goes, especially on that crack. I'm learning to do repairs, too, for pretty much the same reasons you are (except that my husband is, if anything, way overconfident -- today he happily presented me with a sax in an advanced state of decrepitude that he picked up for $30, complete with a high school sticker on the case and much evidence of many years of savage abuse; and he seems to think I can make this sad old honker playable -- hah!). Haven't bought any cracked clarinets (yet) because I don't know what I'm doing with those, so I'd like to hear what works (or not) for you.
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Author: Rick2
Date: 1999-03-09 18:55
The crack has already been pinned. It's the cosmetic work that I am in for.
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