 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: stebinus2
Date: 2009-02-18 08:13
What's the best way to deal with the smell of mildew on hard rubber mouthpieces? Can you bleach them or use alcohol? What about removing the greenish cast of old hard rubber instruments and mouthpieces?
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Author: Noverbuf
Date: 2009-02-18 08:47
According to the compatibility charts ethyl alcohol is 100% compatible with hard rubber so you can use it on the MPs and clarinets. I had no problems with using vodka on the HR MPs. Take one shot in and a dozen drops on a swab and work on your MP Continue until satisfied.
Green cast on MPs is like rust on metal. You can remove it with sand paper, then polish to your satisfaction if it bothers you. Some people use olive oil to hide the cast but that's only cosmetical.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2009-02-18 09:08
Don't wash ebonite clarinets or mouthpieces in hot water as this will only make them go green, and don't leave them in direct sunlight either. If it's turned green but doesn't smell or taste of sulphur, then I can only suggest you live with it.
I wouldn't use vegetable oil to darken the finish as it can go rancid, and if olive oil gets into the mechanism, it'll bind it all up solid (likewise bore oil can do the same thing).
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2009-02-18 10:18
You can soak in mild bleach.
For some mouthpieces it turns the surface back to black from green. But it doesn't seem to work in all cases.
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Author: redwine
Date: 2009-02-18 11:28
Hello,
I would recommend using a mild lemon juice solution in water. Clean the mouthpiece with a cloth, dipped in this solution. Be gentle around the facing. Then, after it's dry, use olive oil, which should bring back the mouthpiece's luster. Also, you could check out the Dr's Products stuff.
Ben Redwine, DMA
owner, RJ Music Group
Assistant Professor, The Catholic University of America
Selmer Paris artist
www.rjmusicgroup.com
www.redwinejazz.com
www.reedwizard.com
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Author: stebinus2
Date: 2009-02-18 15:13
Thanks to all for the extremely helpful info. If I decide to sand the instrument what grit(s) should I use and what are some ways I can polish again, preferably without using a wheel? However I do have medium and small size grinders so I guess getting something for those would be a possibility.
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2009-02-19 08:14
Brasso (or probably any other) brass polish does quite well at polishing, but I'd clean it off well afterwards.
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Author: skygardener
Date: 2009-02-19 09:28
There is a product called "White Magic Sponge". It is very effective at removing the outer layer of the rubber.
Just rub it around with very light pressure and the 'old' rubber will basically fall off. After that, you should use some kind of polish to seal it as the rubber is now totally raw (liable to turn again and soon smell the same as before).
Also, I would be careful to avoid the facing with this or any method you use.
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Author: stebinus2
Date: 2009-02-19 14:03
I have been searching for this white magic sponge and can't find it for sale in the US. Do you know of any sources?
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Author: skygardener
Date: 2009-02-21 03:29
In the US, Arm and Hammer markets it as "Magic Eraser". There may be other makers. It should be with all the other cleaning products in the supermarket.
PS. Anyone that uses this should do it under cold running water- you don't want to be breathing the dust if you use it dry.
Post Edited (2009-02-21 14:07)
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