 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: knotty
Date: 2009-11-01 14:34
Are there physical changes that happen to the plastic in clarinets over time? (like getting brittle or weakening) Reason being, there are some very old (40+ years) plastic clarinets being sold on auctions and have wondered if it's a bad idea to buy them. These clarinets were being used when I was in Jr. high (eons ago) lol.
Thanks!
~ Musical Progress: None ~
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Author: Brad Behn
Date: 2009-11-01 15:10
Some plastics do get brittle over time. I remember going on a ski trip with a freind who hadn't used his plastic boots in many years. He put them on, walked a few paces and they broke apart. Good thing he wasn't skiing at the time.
Brad Behn
http://www.clarinetmouthpiece.com
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2009-11-01 15:48
While some will get brittle, there are some that can't, because they already are.
I haven't acquired an old plastic clarinet yet that decayed to dust in my hands.
Hard rubber, on the other hand, appears to be less stable, depending on recipe used back then.
You should be safe with one of those resonite clarinets.
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Ben
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Author: BobD
Date: 2009-11-01 16:08
First of all there are many different "plastics" and many different formulations of them. In general ....without the proper additives....plasics become degraded by ultraviolet light. The only plastic clarinets that I've ever heard of that degrade significantly are those that were made of "cellulose" i.e. "Celluloid". Some of the old hard rubber formulations get discolored with time and some have been known to distort if exposed to excessive heat (i.e. back shelf of a car seat in summer).
In general.....one need not be concerned about "old plastic clarinets" becoming degraded except for the cautions above. In fact....some of the old "plastic" clarinets are better than some of the newer ones.....in my experience.
Bob Draznik
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2009-11-01 18:46
> Has anyone consulted Mrs. Robinson? ;^)
OMG. That'd be a movie for tonight...
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Ben
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2009-11-02 00:03
Bob D says it very well, some "plastics" [an overused Generic term] like the Hard[ened] Rubbers seem to last forever. Some do discololor but thats all, IMHO. Some have only low [or none] concentrations of the "protective" additives blended in, with some of these , like plastic grocery etc sacks, by intentuion for early [garbage] disintegration. Complex?, Yes, Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: knotty
Date: 2009-11-02 00:46
Thanks a lot guys, that's good news about plastic not deteriorating much because I want to get several more abused and neglected clarinets for restoration practice. So far, I restored a Bundy and recently got a Evette and Yamaha 20.
knotty
~ Musical Progress: None ~
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Author: lrooff
Date: 2009-11-02 13:38
There are a lot of variables, depending upon the type of plastic used. Exposure to UV and/or ozone can make some plastics start to break down. Contact with some chemicals can also make a difference. When I was a firefighter, we received a service bulletin warning us not to use chemical cleaners like 409 on our helmets, because it gradually embrittled them and made them fragile. This was discovered when someone, who had kept his helmet clean with that sort of cleaner for a few years, dropped his helmet and it shattered.
That said, I don't recall having seen a clarinet that failed due to deterioration of the plastic, rather than accident, abuse or carelessness.
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