 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Katelyn
Date: 2007-03-13 00:53
About seven months ago I bought a new Buffet R13. Within the last month or two I've been noticing some discoloration of the wood at the very top of the upper body joint. It's turning a slight bluish white. I've been putting a mixture of olive and almond oil (plus some vitamin E in there) on the area, but it only helps for about a day or so. Is there anything I can do to fix this? Previously my barrel was too tight at the joint, and I just recently got it fixed. Could that have had anything to do with it? Thanks!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: claritoot26
Date: 2007-03-13 18:55
Humidifying your instrument will probably help. It sounds like the wood is drying out. You can use a room humidifier where the instrument is stored, or use a cello-sized Damp-it in the case (not in the bore of the clarinet), remembering to check the moisture level every day. Almond oil is good once in awhile, but it doesn't take much. You probably don't need the Vitamin E or the olive oil...I've heard that olive oil can smell rancid after awhile if used on an instrument, more so than almond oil.
I hope this was useful.
Lori
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Avie
Date: 2007-03-13 22:01
If the discoloration was noticed before the work on the tenon was performed I would take the clarinet back to the place of purchase. Your warrenty should cover the possible flaw in the wood. A tight tenon is a simple matter of concentric light sanding of the tenon until a substantial fit is obtained. Unless there was an unfortunate accident the wood may have been flawed to begin with and temporarily masked. I wouldnt try anything on my own until you find out the cause of the discoloration. Maybe other BB members have experienced a similar problem with a new clarinet. I have a slight discoloration on my 1968 Buffet at the top of the bottom joint. I never found out the reason but I dont even notice it anymore and it doesnt effect the tone. Good Luck.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: D
Date: 2007-03-13 22:29
It is possible it is a bloom caused by solvent disruption of a waxy/oily surface. The fresh oil acts as an optical filler and as such improves the appearance for a few days. If this is the case then it might be possible to restore the appearance with gentle heating. However, I absolutely do not recommend you do this under any circumstance. There are too many materials involved and therefore different expansion and contraction co-efficients to do this without being a very experienced technician who can adjust anything that goes out of wack.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Chalumeau Joe
Date: 2007-03-14 03:04
The bluishness may also be caused by a fungus (it's known as "blue stain" and affects most types of wood).
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: pewd
Date: 2007-03-14 04:06
if it was my horn, i'd run a swab soaked in the doctor's bore oil thru once or twice, and let it sit overnight. repeat every 4 months. and forget about it.
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Katelyn
Date: 2007-03-14 17:34
Thanks, everyone. I've always found these pages an invaluable resource, seeing as I don't have a private teacher myself. I'll try humidifying it first. It sounds like it's not something that would cause any major damage anytime soon (I've got a large, irrational fear of it cracking). My favorite tech's an hour away in good traffic, and I wanted to see if I could save myself a trip.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2007-03-14 18:32
(Disclaimer - I sell woodwind care products)
Every piece of wood is from a different tree (probably) in your clarinet and each has different characteristics and needs - humidification, oiling, etc. to a different degree.
What you may be noticing is my flag for when a piece of wood needs oil which is a dull, grayish (perhaps blue-ish white) look. Usually the upper joint (in my clarinet) is the first to show this appearance. I use oil if the wood looks like this rather than black and shiny. Without inspecting your clarinet in person it is of course impossible to render a judgment. Since the clarinet is still under warranty I would not do anything to void the warranty however (I believe that they might consider oiling in this category) and would take it back to the dealer for their inspection and potential replacement. A 7 month old clarinet should not require oiling.
L. Omar Henderson
www.doctorsprod.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2007-03-14 21:41
I take it we are talking about the clarinet's tenon.
Many models incorporate a semi-glossy, black, filler of grain and hider of blemishes. I don't know about R13 off-hand. I don't know if this is used on the tenons as well. I know that with some top Selmer Paris models you have the option of "painted" or not. The not painted version is more expensive, presumably because the timber has to be a better specimen. The unpainted ones are not evenly black.
The technician very likely trimmed a little timber off the tenon. This would have removed any finish that was there.
There seem to be several possibilities here. It is difficult to be sure without seeing it.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: mk
Date: 2007-03-15 00:49
the vitamin e oil may not do much to change the color, but is great for the skin. imperfections are what give character to wood...i would not try to disguise or apply too many oils, just revel in its uniqueness.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2007-03-15 01:01
(Disclaimer - I sell a plant derived oil for woodwind instruments)
The Vitamin E is an additative intended to keep the plant oils - in this case olive and almond from autoxidizing (turning rancid). Vitamin E is a relatively good antioxidant in animal fat systems but a poor one in plant oils. It may work for some time but fails the longevity test. There are other more powerful antioxidants for plant oils that offer long lasting antioxidant protection but are not well know to the non plant scientist. Olive oil and almond oil have been used historically by some for their instruments but IMO are not the best plant oils to use on Grenadilla wood.
L. Omar Henderson
www.doctorsprod.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Chris P
Date: 2007-03-15 12:51
"Within the last month or two I've been noticing some discoloration of the wood at the very top of the upper body joint. It's turning a slight bluish white."
Has anything been stuck into the case with SUPERGLUE in this area?
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Katelyn
Date: 2007-03-16 00:00
No, no superglue. I don't think it's a wood fungus. The bluish tends towards purple in some lights; I think it may be the finishing-dye stuff they use. The whiteness starts at the outside edge of the top and works inward over time. I took another good look at the area today, and it seems that the inside around the affected area is a bit on the dry side. But i may be imagining that. Everywhere else on my clarinet doesn't seem thirsty, just that one area.
The oil that I use is made by the store I bought my clarinet from. Apparently one of their techs went to a seminar or something and learned about oils, and came back with a combination he thought was good (Almond and Olive with some E to prevent any antioxidization). I figured it was better than any petrolium distolate poison that they originally tried to sell me.
Thanks, yet again, for all your input. I know my issue's pretty hard to deal with without seeing it. I may take it back to where I bought it on Saturday to see what they say. In the meantime I'll also go peruse the Doctor's website for oil and whatnot. Enough people on these boards seem to almost swear by his stuff - it must be good.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: D Dow
Date: 2007-03-16 00:47
I find it pretty offensive that Buffet have resorted to using a dye ....I think it is used to simply hide poor grain quality..I cannot think of one reason why Buffet use this stuff..maybe someone out there may know what Buffet's dye is for.
David Dow
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: GBK
Date: 2007-03-16 00:55
D Dow wrote:
> I find it pretty offensive that Buffet have resorted to using a
> dye ....I think it is used to simply hide poor grain quality..I
> cannot think of one reason why Buffet use this stuff..maybe
> someone out there may know what Buffet's dye is for.
I think you answered your own question ![[wink]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie3.gif) ...GBK
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2007-03-16 01:00
"I cannot think of one reason why Buffet use this stuff.."
I agree with GBK.
It may also be to hide magnificent grain quality. Most people just seem to like that totally even, totally black look, imagining it is always the natural colour of the grenadilla.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: pewd
Date: 2007-03-16 02:16
>swear by his stuff - it must be good.
it is.
i just repadded an old clarinet for a student - i dont think its been touched for 20+ years - the wood looks almost new after using the doctors bore oil - wonderful stuff.
gordon - what solvent would you suggest for removing the dye from an old clarinet - i have another one i'm repadding - i'd like to remove the remnants of the dye still on the wood. methanol maybe?
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2007-03-16 10:57
Yes, methanol has accidentally made a big mess of it for me in the past.
Acetone works even faster.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Chris P
Date: 2007-03-16 11:19
Methylated spirits will clean off the dye as well, but have plenty of rags with you to do this job, and it's best done outdoors - not only for natural daylight which will show up the bits of dye you've missed, but you won't be breathing in the vapours.
After the dye has been cleaned off, buff the joints with a clean rag with a few drops of bore oil.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Katelyn
Date: 2007-03-16 15:51
I didn't think using a bit of dye on the outside of a clarinet was that big of a deal. Granted, I am pretty much a complete novice at this stuff. Maybe I'm using the wrong word. "Finish", maybe? idk. Some of it started to come off my bell a bit, and it just lost it's shine in places on it, not really any color. Either way, I think it still looks awesome (but then, I'm still in awe that I finally get to use wood instead of plastic...).
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
