The Clarinet BBoard

The Clarinet BBoard The C4 standard

New Topic | Go to Top | Go to Topic | Search | Help/Rules | Smileys/Notes | Log In

Previous Message | Next Message

Re: Question for techs....tools!??

Author: clarnibass
Date: 2011-07-24 05:55

For tone holes, I have the set from Boehm which is a type of hand tool for small finishing of tone holes. Others (Ferree's, Allied maybe) sell pretty similar tools. This is 14 sizes of files. I think these and the similar tools from other companies are a bit too shallow for most clarinet tone holes, so I only use them sometimes, not so often.

After filling tone holes I mostly finish with a dental micromotor by hand. If more is necessary to cut I'd use a home made more accurange angle shaped "cutter", which is either a steel made cutter or a metal/plastic tool with sand paper glued to it. This is for the outer angled "bed". For the slight inside angle I use tapered cutters from Boehm or home made tools. I think Ferree's, Allied, etc. have similar tools.

For swedging, IMO it is not as simple as buying a plier and swedge. First, there are two types of swedging. One is to remove play from between posts, the other is to remove play from around the rod screw (and often both). Someimes different methods are used for each problem.

The collet is used mostly for the latter, removing the play between the hinge tube and the rod screw. It doesn't extend the hinge tube very much. Also you can only use it at the ends of the tubes. Pliers do this too but slightly less accurately (don't put equal pressure all around the tube) but can work just fine for this too (sometimes) but also better for extending the hinge tube. For maximum extending you'd use thinner pliers, which will put the force on a small area for the same force. You can use pliers anywhere with enough space for the pliers you are using.

I really like the big pliers from Ferree's with several holes, but the new version. It works so you don't need as much force with your hand for the same result. Other than that it's better to have several other pliers in different sizes and thicknesses. I think I have about eight sedging pliers and occasionally feel I could use even more sizes.

Very important for swedging are "anti-swedging" tools. These are tools for fitting the rod screws when you swedged a bit too much, facing the hinge tube ends, deburring the inside and outside of the hinge tubes, etc. These are many more tools and some can be expensive and some are pretty cheap. But all are very important IMO. These can inlude hinge tube facers, broaches, round files, reamers, dental burs (cone, setting and cup), etc.

Reply To Message | Avail. Forums | Flat View

Newer Topic | Older Topic

Topics