 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: EuGeneSee
Date: 2008-02-08 03:36
We had a tornado hit here (Clinton, Ark) a couple days ago which demolished the band building used by our community band and scattered instruments and music files among the debris for about 150 - 200 yards.
Most of the instruments in cases which remained intact and stayed closed appear to have survived with minor, if any damage from being tossed about. However, inasmuch as this tornado hit just after dark, and was accompanied by heavy rains, many of the instruments spent the night under muddy water in puddles or a roadside ditch. That dirty water had seeped into the cases and soaked the instruments by the time daylight returned and they were rescued. This would be similar to having suffered through a flood, so there should be considerable knowledge about how to handle such damage.
So, other than the expected disassembly, cleaning, replacing of pads, etc., what must one do to the wooden bodied calrinets to remove the water they have soaked up and to oil the bodies in order to preserve them from cracking? What, if any, permanent harm might be expected from such a soaking?
I do plan to replace the cases.
Eu
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Katrina
Date: 2008-02-08 03:47
I have no clues as to resolving your problems, but I'm sure glad you survived!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Vytas
Date: 2008-02-08 04:03
I hope your R13 is fine?
Vytas Krass
Clarinet Repair
Professional clarinet technician
Custom clarinet mouthpiece maker
Former professional clarinet player
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: skygardener
Date: 2008-02-08 04:14
After wiping the clarinets clean, do you see any visible signs of the wood being swelled or weak?? Spongy?? Or anything different than normal?? Color?? If everything looks ok then eveything should be ok, I think. Also check for any damage that may have come from being tossed a far distance- check around key pillars for stress cracks or ruptures, check that they keys are not bent.
In the worst possible situation, the instruments would have to be replaced, but only a few hours in water should not be that bad. I have NO experience with water damaged clarinets, but here are my thoughts...
My advice would be to clean the instruments and use something to kill any bacteria that may have infused into the wood (Doctor Henderson- H2O2 for this??). Let the instruments dry, out in the open (indoors) so that the excess water can escape- try to keep the humidity in the room above 40% so that the change is not too severe. Let it dry for about a week to be sure.
Re-oil the outside and inside as you would normally.
Basically, the only difference that I see between this and restoring a clarinet that had spent years in an attic is the problems of bacteria that may have been picked up from the soil.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: EuGeneSee
Date: 2008-02-08 04:45
Vytas:
The R13 was in the band building and got thrown about 50 yards, however it landed in a grassy area and was covered with a piece of wall board. I was about sick as we didn't find it until the next afternoon - there was so much debris from other buildings mixed with ours. I had played it some that afternoon and was going to practice some more that evening, but the storm intervened.
I had taken it out of the pouchette case and put it into a ProTec case, so it was not damaged in any way from the landing, and being covered by debris kept it dry. A bassoon (in a similar case, generic, not ProTec) lying nearby was similarly protected.
The wooden clarinets that got soaked were a Series 10, an Artley 17S, and a boxwood Pourcelle. Also a wooden Huller piccolo.
Eu
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2008-02-08 06:47
Woodwind wood (as opposed to string instruments wood) is very dense and oily and will withstand water very well. I don't think a night or a day in a puddle would do it much damage.
Wash and clean it (as if you'd overhaul them), and let them dry slowly. Either wrapped in a towel or in the socks drawer. Be sure to air them regularly - you don't want to breed mildew.
I wouldn't worry about bacteria - not a second. There's not a lot to eat for them, and the tannines in the wood are slightly antibacterial. (here is an article about bacterias on wooden and plastic cutting boards)
And hey! Glad you survived the tornado unharmed, I hope everyone did. But isn't this a very odd season for tornadoes?
--
Ben
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Chris P
Date: 2008-02-08 07:41
Good to hear you're OK!
I didn't realise you were directly hit as on the news here in the UK they only mentioned Arkansas in general, but no specific details as to which towns were affected.
"Also a wooden Huller piccolo."
I'd take the keys off it and let everything dry out over a week or so in a controlled temperature (any room in your house will do, but not near radiators, heaters or any direct heat source) and then oil the bore, clean the toneholes and replace the keys. You may have to polish the steel screws (pins) as they might have rusted, so take it apart as soon as possible so they don't rust with the keys in place as they'll be very difficult to remove.
On this piccolo, the keys are held in with push-fit pins rather than screws, so push them out from the rounded end. The pads I used on it are white leather with a waterproof coating, so they can be cleaned easily. If the case is beyond repair, the only replacement one that could fit is a plastic one for any of the American piccolos (Emerson, Bundy, Armstrong, Gemeinhardt, etc. - but with a bit of fitting of the lining to accomodate the keys and pillars, though the plastic cases have a lot of room inside to play around with).
The Artley 17s clarinet is plastic bodied but has a wood-like finish, so that will be fine - a good clean up will get that back to life.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Vytas
Date: 2008-02-08 13:55
EuGene,
You can send the Selmer Series 10 to me. I will take care of it.
No charge! You pay for shipping.
Vytas Krass
Clarinet Repair
Professional clarinet technician
Custom clarinet mouthpiece maker
Former professional clarinet player
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: EuGeneSee
Date: 2008-02-08 14:01
Thanks folks for the advice on cleaning and protecting the instruments . . . I will be working on them today.
Oh, Chris, I goofed on the Artley model number; we have a 17S, but the wooden Artley that was in the muddy ditch was our other one, an 8S. Of course, the plastic horns will need the same care for their metal parts and pads as their wooden counterparts.
EuGene
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Chris P
Date: 2008-02-08 14:03
I would have suggested sending the piccolo back to me, but what with all the US Customs hassle last time on it's return journey I don't think either of us want a repeat of that.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: EuGeneSee
Date: 2008-02-08 14:20
Gee, thanks, Vytas. I have cleaned it up and let it dry, as Chris mentioned, so maybe you wouldn't have to do much with it. I'll send it up in a couple days when I get some free time, as I have been pretty busy with clean-up efforts.
Eu
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: EuGeneSee
Date: 2008-02-08 14:30
Not a problem on the piccolo, Chris. With only 6 simple keys and no stacks, interconnections, or other adjustment complications, I would not be too uncomfortable disassembling it to clean and lube the works. I will need to get a new case for it as the old one was destroyed . . . I found the two piccolo sections in the mud probably 15 - 20 feet apart
Eu
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: EuGeneSee
Date: 2008-02-08 14:59
It actually was our our brass instruments which suffered the worst damage, probably due to their generally larger size. Their cases broke open more often and the horns slammed into the ground, trees, the street, etc., resulting in badly twisted and mangled horns.
One interesting thing, though. We had two older, heavy metal tubas, a Besson and a Reynolds, both were tossed at least a 100 feet away, and neither suffered any damage. The plastic covering was stripped off the end of one of the tuba cases, exposing the plywood, but the cases stayed intact.
The worst damage of all was our 5 timpanis - - they were completely smashed, mangled, and none is repairable.
Eu
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Chris P
Date: 2008-02-08 15:00
At least the headjoint is ebonite on this piccolo, so that won't be affected. But wash it in cool to luke-warm water with detergent as hot water will probably make the ebonite turn green. The headjoint cork will pull out from the upper end as this piccolo (and most wooden ones) has a cylindrical headjoint bore (and a conical body).
In some cases the socket rings may also loosen when it dries out, though once the normal humidity is restored (and after oiling) they should be a tight fit.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2008-02-08 15:46
EuGene -
In the West Point Band, we got caught in a couple of torrential downpours during parades and several hours of rain during an Army/Navy game. Our repair guys simply blew the water off the (plastic Bundy) clarinets with an air hose, wiped them off, put light key oil on the rods and pivot screws and let them sit out overnight. They never removed the keys, and there was no problem with the standard bladder pads.
Remember that wind instruments are designed to get wet. Even a couple of days won't hurt grenadilla. Given the mud, a dunk in clear water won't hurt, followed by a blast from an air hose and open-air drying. If the boxwood Pourcelle has any value, you should probably take it to a conservator.
Good repair shops can remove dents from brass instruments. If the tympani are brass, they should be fixable too.
If your clarinets are beyond repair, I have a decent pre-R-13 Buffet I could donate, and also a wood Lyric by Pedler, a bit quirky on intonation but "close enough for marching band."
Ken Shaw
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2008-02-08 16:14
I'd just let the wooden parts air-dry out in the open for a few weeks, then do a regular complete overhaul, ending with a light oiling of the bore.
Post Edited (2008-02-08 17:10)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: EuGeneSee
Date: 2008-02-10 04:56
Clarinet Bulletin Board members;
Sorry I have been off for a spell, but our cable service provider has been shut down. It is my understanding that because of broken transmission line poles, one of their main lines was on the ground and it got run over and broken too many times in too many places by track hoes, dump trucks, and other debris removal equipment. The cable company is working to put up new poles and run a new overhead cable. In the meantime I came to my sister's house (about 20 miles away) and am using her computer.
Thanks to everyone for all the advice on how to take care of the water soaked and muddy horns. Gary Sage, a tech in another town offered to clean and lube instruments for us, so I took a batch over to him this afternoon, but we may find others, so I know what to do with them.
Ken, I truly am overwhelmed by the offer of the pre-R13 Buffet, although that is certainly a mighty fine replacement for a couple of lost student horns, so much so that I would almost feel guilty receiving it.
I appreciate the assistance from everyone on this BB and other musicians who have contacted us to offer help in getting our band back on its feet.
We lost some music and instruments . . . rather insignificant stuff that is, when I think of so many others who lost family members and homes. So, I am truly humbled when folks offer so much comfort and assistance to our little band in the midst of all this mess. The folks on this BB are truly so kind and for that I say thanks from the bottom of my heart.
EuGene C. Smith
Librarian & Equipment Manager
Van Buren County Community Band
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: EuGeneSee
Date: 2008-02-10 05:05
Oh, another clarinet that was lost to the storm my personal Leblanc Symphonie. It didn't get muddy, only wet, but the problem is that the case came open and the only piece we have found is the lower joint.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: EuGeneSee
Date: 2008-02-11 06:03
Ken, the Pourcelle actually has very little value since they are about as common as Beanie Babies, but it is a lot of fun to honk, and everybody loves the looks of it.
It was easy to clean up, and the keys can be quickly removed just by pulling out the litttle brass pins (no screws to rust) . . . not unlike the 6-key piccolo that Chris P. was talking about. I kept it in one of those watertight cases (like photographers use) but had taken it out of the case and had it lying on the desk beside the R13 (which was in a ProTec case). It got tossed about 50 feet away, but all the parts stayed together!
Eu
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: crnichols
Date: 2008-02-11 06:42
I just heard this story first-hand from your conductor. Retired LTC Holt just guest conducted one of our concerts in Alma, Arkansas. I observed a good bit of damage in the Memphis area and the Mountain Home area. It was significant, and I hope everything turns around for you guys!
Best wishes!
Christopher Nichols, D.M.A.
Assistant Professor of Clarinet
University of Delaware
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: EuGeneSee
Date: 2008-02-11 12:46
David:
I have some old clunkers and a parts box of plastic clarinet joints, so inasmuch as I have never done an overhaul, I suppose I need to use those joints for practice. I must garner a bit of self confidence before doing such overhauls as you suggested, so that I don't ruin any clarinets which are muddy but otherwise serviceable.
Eu
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: EuGeneSee
Date: 2008-02-11 12:57
Christopher:
That rapscallion, Dell Holt, is a fine conductor and the spark plug that kicked off this community band and built it up over the past 2 years. I wish I could have come to that concert which he guest conducted.
Because he is somewhat vertically challenged, we tease him a lot ("Dell, get a step ladder so we can see you!"), but we all love him . . . he is a man of boundless energy, constantly on the go, and involved in just about every civic activity there is.
With his leadership, no setback such as the recent storm will stop "HIS" band from continuing th grow and mature.
Eu
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: EuGeneSee
Date: 2008-02-20 19:40
Just a quick note to close this thread. Thanks to all who offered advice and support - to a couple members who remain anonymous for a flute and a check - to two of our advertisers, Vytas Krass and Nancy Shinn, for donated instrument repairs. We are recovering nicely with much help from all directions! Thank you very much. EuGene
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
