 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Ebclarinet1
Date: 2011-02-18 03:57
A couple of the screws on my bass keep coming loose. In the past, I've used a drop of clear nail polish to prevent this but I was wondering if I'm doing some damage potentially. Would appreciate any opinions yeah or nay on this before I do it.
thanks!
Eefer guy
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: SteveG_CT
Date: 2011-02-18 04:23
Do you mean that you are putting nail polish on the threads and then screwing them in? You won't damage the screws or threads with the nail polish. Still, it's not addressing the real problem which is that the thread on the screw and an the post are likely very worn. Rather than using nail polish or loctite (which will only be a temporary fix) you may want to have a repair person re-tap the posts and make new rod screws to replace the ones that keep backing out.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: jasperbay
Date: 2011-02-18 04:43
Nail polish is ok, but the Loctite Co. makes a much better threadlocker. They make several different strengths, from hard to soft, depending on how easy you want dissasembly to be.
Many tapered-point pivot screws don't want to be tightened all the way in, or the shaft binds. Conn had a pretty good idea on their 424 and 444 model clarinets, by using a teeny set screw on the side, that could lock the pivot screw at any adjustment. These teeny screws are easily lost, however, so loctite comes in handy, still!
Clark G. Sherwood
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: BassClarinetBaby
Date: 2011-02-18 04:48
I don't quite understand what you mean but if the nail polish only touches the screw and not the wood then it shouldn't be doing any damage. This being said, it also isn't fixing the problem permanently. If the problem is persistent, I'd look at getting new screws made up, not just going with the temporary nail polish fix.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Reedirect
Date: 2011-02-18 05:16
I believe it's safe to use. Nail lacquer consists of nitrocellulose disolved in acetone. It used to be a very widespread lacquer also for wood as well as brass instruments. Therefore it is not supposed to do any harm to either the brass of your posts or the wood. Modern nitorcellulose will be washed until having a neutral pH so that remnants of sulfuric acid are entirely removed. That would be the only substance which could potentially cause any harm.
It is indeed a nice solution of stabilizing a screw as it does not becomes brittle so that the screw can easily be removed and the lacquer itself can be entirely removed from the screw using the acetone in a nail polish remover.
Superglue, in contrast consists of cyanoacrylate, which becomes brittle so that you may end up with a screw that cannot be removed at all without damage to screw and post.
If a screw is only slightly loose (i.e. tends to loosen over time) nail lacquer (polish) it a good solution.
Best
Jo
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: clarnibass
Date: 2011-02-18 05:21
If you get nail polish on the screws there is no damage at all. IMO it is ok and better than nothing in an emergency, but I don't like nail polish for this purpose. To get close to any decent result there's some hassle, you basically have to put on the screw, wait for a few minutes, put the screw in place, then wait some time, a lot longer than it actually takes the nail polish to dry. Then if you try to re-adjust the screw slightly after, it will mostly lose its grip. In addition it is not great against screws that also wobble a bit.
In comparison weak purple (222) Loctite, or even blue (I think it's 243), is much better. Put a bit. Wait a few minutes at most, usually less. Then it's holding the screw solidly and allows more adjustment, a considerable amount. Much better to stop the screw wobbling or turning with a lot less hassle.
As far as replacing the screws mentioned in the post above, unless the screw is extremely wobbly then IMO this is unecessary. If Loctite can solve the problem it's a much faster and cheaper repair that is just as good really.
I really wish nail polish was as good or even close. It's so much easier and cheaper to get. But unfortunately the disadvantages are too much IME/O.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ebclarinet1
Date: 2011-02-19 15:12
Thank you all for your suggestions. I had some trepidation about the long term effects of the nail polish. The Loctite sounds like a better solution.
This horn is only 3 years old and it is the ONE screw that I'm constantly putting back into place. It's on LH side trill key and although I use it to finger F# fairly often I'm thinking it might be defective/ stripped because of this too.
Eefer guy
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2011-06-15 17:55
I'm reviving this thread because of a thread on the subject on the Musical Instrument Technician board, http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/musical_instrument_technician/messages.
There are now three versions of LocTite:
Red - makes a permanent bond that's nearly unbreakable - not right key screws
Blue - makes a strong but breakable bond - use when nail polish doesn't hold
Krauss Thread-locker - a low-strength LocTite made for this purpose http://www.krausmusic.com/adhesive/miscglue.htm, item #1245.
Krauss sells only wholesale, so you'll have to have your repair tech order it. If you do any of your own work, you should also get Krauss's superb screwdrivers and other tools.
Ken Shaw
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2011-06-15 18:10
Ken Shaw wrote:
> There are now three versions of LocTite:
Kraus isn't LocTite - it's Pacer
There are two kinds of LocTite Red (one requires heat before disassembly), + LocTite Green (for already assembled components), along with your aforementioned blue.
Plus - I build model helicopters to crash ^H^H^H^H^H fly. There are a lot more versions of thread lockers that are specific to a particular use, including the purple Pacer threadlocker (and a host of cyanoacrylics, too).
Frequent your local hobby shop and discover what the R/C hobbyists have known for years.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: clarnibass
Date: 2011-06-15 18:41
Actually there is another type of Loctite, it's purple and it's the weak one. I think it's the best type for most woodwind screws when needed. There is the red which I don't like for anything woodwind related (too strong) and blue is ok for some screws (bigger ones, though I prefer purple anyway).
I've also tried the version from Kraus and and it's fine but I prefer Loctite purple.
I have a bunch of stuff from Kraus and agree that a lot of things from them are great.
Edit: I now see that I already mentioned purple Loctite earlier in this thread.
Post Edited (2011-06-15 18:43)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: beejay
Date: 2011-06-16 11:18
Why should nail varnish be harmful? I put a tiny spot on the each part of my A clarinet so as not to confuse them with my B-flat. I also use nail varnish to seal the ends of a string ligature, as well as on the top of reeds I really like.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
