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 Clarinet Painting
Author: Bluesparkle 
Date:   2009-06-24 12:21

Anyone every paint a clarinet before? I play in my college alumni marching band at homecoming every year and currently have a very cheap, worthless colored clarinet from China. Used it for a couple of years (which amounts to two full days of use-one day each year), and the pads disintegrated. Put in new pads myself, so it's quite an amateur job. Can't play a G#/Eb on it because I have that pad taped down with scotch tape (leaks). I figure no tech in their right mind would spend time getting this horn to play better. Not gonna take my R-13 out on the marching field.

I'm wondering, if I could find a better quality rubber or plastic instrument, if an even coat of spray paint on the outside would affect anything. Keys would be taken off first, of course.

Just want to have a little fun with it, but I also want it to play.

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 Re: Clarinet Painting
Author: blazian 
Date:   2009-06-24 13:49

I've already spray painted my old marching Bundy. It was as easy as taking off the keys and posts and taping up the holes. If you don't want to take out the posts I'm sure you can just tape them somehow. I did the keys in a silver color separately but that was a disaster. It started flaking off really fast and I ended up scratching it all off.

Added: You can actually tape old pads over the toneholes instead of making annoying round pieces of tape.

- Martin

Post Edited (2009-06-24 13:51)

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 Re: Clarinet Painting
Author: tictactux 2017
Date:   2009-06-24 14:00

What colour should it be? Black would be easiest. [tongue]

And: Once upon a time there were Vito Dazzlers, they're just as good as regular Vitos and pop up every so often in these online auctions.

--
Ben

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 Re: Clarinet Painting
Author: Bluesparkle 
Date:   2009-06-24 14:23

I've seen the Vito Dazzlers, but I gotta have orange. Not many clarinets come in orange.

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 Re: Clarinet Painting
Author: tictactux 2017
Date:   2009-06-24 14:40

And the whole clarinet must be orange? The bell alone wouldn't be sufficient?

--
Ben

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 Re: Clarinet Painting
Author: Bluesparkle 
Date:   2009-06-24 22:16

I'm the type of person who jumps in all the way or not at all. Having a colored bell is cute, but doesn't really make an impression or make the statement that I'm a real fan. The gaudier the better in this case. I guess some fans are happy if they have school sweatshirt to wear on game days, and some fans paint their bodies in school colors.

I just want my clarinet to wear the body paint.

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 Re: Clarinet Painting
Author: tictactux 2017
Date:   2009-06-24 22:54

Well then - remove keys, degrease the body, cover posts (at least the screw holes), tenons and rings with painter's or crepe masking tape, cover key holes with round stickers (they come in all sizes), spray.
Let the final coat dry and harden thorougly (at least 48 hours)

As blazian found out, refrain from painting the keys, unless you ultrasonic-cleaned and degreased them and use a metal-proof paint (black stovepipe colour would be good).

As a base, take one of those ubiquitous 20$ Bundies or Vitos.

--
Ben

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 Re: Clarinet Painting
Author: Hank Lehrer 
Date:   2009-06-24 23:27

Would the correct paint be a spray lacquer (Rust-oleum in the US)? Or perhaps auto touch up?

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 Re: Clarinet Painting
Author: Bluesparkle 
Date:   2009-06-25 01:04

I think Krylon has some that's specifically for plastic (lawn chairs, plastic toys, etc.). I'm kinda worried about getting all the keys back on in their proper place. I think that if I take a lot of close up photos of how things are assembled then I will be able to duplicate it, but I know it will take some effort and my reading glasses.

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 Re: Clarinet Painting
Author: David Spiegelthal 2017
Date:   2009-06-25 01:20

I wouldn't use a lacquer-type paint, it might craze the plastic (assuming a plastic clarinet is used). Enamel is probably a safer bet.

I've never played an orange horn,
I never hope to hear one --
But if I see an orange horn
I'm sure to not get near one!
[frown]



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 Re: Clarinet Painting
Author: tictactux 2017
Date:   2009-06-25 06:02

I spray-lacquered a Bundy bell that had a large chip out. Needed to fill it with automotive glass fiber filler, then pained the spot black, finally a coat of spray lacquer over everything.

No problem at all.

Yesterday's Resonite (ie the rather brittle bakelite-like substance) is not ABS and should hold up reasonably well against the solvents in spray paints.

--
Ben

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 Re: Clarinet Painting
Author: clarinet@55 
Date:   2009-06-25 07:28

I have an old plastic Malerne clarinet that I was thinking of cleaning up and then spraying with a clear laquere or deft spray on keys and body. Would the plastic hold up to this type spray? It's no longer playable. This is circa 1960 instrument. Also , what is a good filler that will bond with this plastic material. I have a finger hole that needs repair before I spray the body.



Post Edited (2009-06-25 07:37)

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 Re: Clarinet Painting
Author: blazian 
Date:   2009-06-25 18:01
Attachment:  Photo_062509_001.jpg (245k)
Attachment:  Photo_062509_002.jpg (204k)
Attachment:  Photo_062509_003.jpg (385k)

Do your case too. My school colors are green, orange, and white/silver so I turned my green plastic Vito case into a "spirit" case. On the square sections I put that shiny foil looking duct tape and then diagonal orange stripes on top. I added tape on top for when it gets wet.

Just a though, but if the Chinese clarinet is already in the right color, are you going to use the bell and/or barrel from that?

- Martin

Post Edited (2009-06-25 18:04)

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 Re: Clarinet Painting
Author: Bluesparkle 
Date:   2009-06-26 14:32

You know, the colorful case reminds me that when I started high school, I had an old Vito. To add a little school spirit, I painted the black case green with large white dots. When I got to high school band camp, I became embarassed that I had decked out my case, so I sprayed it black again and it looked like everyone else's.

I've noticed that the older I get, the less I care about what people think. I like the idea of a fancy case to go along with my eye-popping clarinet. I'll probably have enough paint to do both...

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