 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Kelly
Date: 2000-11-24 19:39
Hi Everyone, Happy Thanksgiving!
I have been having trouble with keys sticking during cold outdoor marching practices. The keys never stick otherwise, does anyone know what's happening and how to fix this?
Thanks,
Kelly
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Willie
Date: 2000-11-25 03:04
It may be the oil used. most petroleum based oils get thick and can even gel in the cold. Some oils disapate and leave a gummy substance behind. Drinking stuff like coke or eating sugery candy before playing can cause a sticky residue to form in a horn and cause keys and pads to start sticking
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Josephine
Date: 2000-11-25 09:10
What you can try doing is taking a new dollar bill and slipping it under the keys. Gently hold the key down and pull the dollar bill out. If your pads are really dark and dirty, you may want to get them changed.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2000-11-25 13:53
Is it a plastic clarinet? The plastic shrinks significantly in the cold and if the pivots were adjusted accurately they can jam when the plastic shrinks. Timber can do the same in a DRY atmosphere.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2000-11-25 14:00
It would help to know which keys. The jamming from shrinkage occurs mainly on the E/B and F#/C# keys, and the F/C 'Lever', and perhaps on the ring keys.
Jamming from cold-sensitive gummy deposits in pivot tubes could give problems in any of the other keys. If it is the pads themselves that are sticking it will only be a problem on the keys that are normally open, although it could make sticky NOISES on the others.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Kelly
Date: 2000-11-25 16:09
Thanks for all the replies! The pads are in good shape, just the actual keys that stick. The keys that do are the ring keys on the top joint, and the F#/C# key. I assume there's nothing that can be done if the problem is with shrinkage, am I right in thinking that? Thanks again for the replies!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2000-11-26 21:26
If it is shrinkage something CAN be done. Even a 20th of a millimetre (0.002") more 'sloppiness' in the adjustment of the pivot may solve the problem. There can be many other causes. Ring keys can jam on the plastic or timber. Excessive friction on the cork in the linkage between the thumb ring key and the top ring key could be cold sensitive and do it, etc, etc, etc ad nauseum. Get it seen to by a technician!!!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Kelly
Date: 2000-12-02 02:42
Thank you so much Gordon!!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
