 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: vljenewein
Date: 2012-07-26 18:18
Anyone ever blew smoke into the sections testing the pads for leaks? I don't think cigarette smoke would be good since it contains tars that would make the pads sticky.
Vernon
Jenewein Duduks Manufacturing & Research
www.duduk.us American made Duduks
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Author: kdk
Date: 2012-07-26 20:32
I had a repairman back in the 1960s who tested for leaks that way. You probably wouldn't need to do it often enough for tar to be an issue, but the smell doesn't go away for days, which would be enough to keep me from considering it.
Karl
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2012-07-26 23:47
Not a good idea - who wants to play a clarinet that stinks like an ashtray after someone's filled it with smoke? While it's a quick way to find leaks, it stinks.
You're better off isolating leaks by testing each pad individually - block all the open toneholes off with Blu-Tack and test each key at a time for leaky pads and adjust them as you go. It takes longer, but at least it's being thorough.
Also test each joint to be sure they're airtight by blocking all the toneholes off and doing a suction test or using a leak testing machine (magnehelic) that gently pressurises the joint.
The most likely culprits for leaks are the actual tonehole rims themselves. Far too often they have small imperfections in them (right on the crown where the pad seats against them) which cause small leaks - and several small leaks soon add up to a big leak. So address any tonehole bedplace imperfections to be sure the pads will seal properly against them.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: clarinetguy ★2017
Date: 2012-07-27 01:40
Gosh, I haven't heard about this in years! When I was starting out in the 60s, I heard about repairmen who used cigar smoke to check for leaks, although the repairman I used never did it. Thankfully, this is no longer a burning issue today!
Your question reminded me of another tobacco story. Are there any teachers who smoke while teaching lessons anymore? I sure hope not. It was about 40 years ago, and I went for a couple lessons with a new private teacher. The man was rather arrogant, and to make matters worse, he smoked while I played. I quickly found a new teacher.
Post Edited (2012-07-27 01:47)
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2012-07-27 02:01
Anyone, repairmen try using pot? Would that make a difference. Had to ask!
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
Post Edited (2012-07-27 02:11)
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2012-07-27 09:01
>> Anyone, repairmen try using pot? Would that make a difference. Had to ask! <<
At least it wouldn't smell as bad... assuming it's not mixed with tobacco 
Cigar smoke smells the worst and cigarette smoke is not far behind...
There is really no reason to use this method. Every leak is possible to find using methods that don't leave your clarinet smelling so bad. IME it's not days, it's far longer. Sometimes there will still be a bit of smell after weeks and months. Sometimes it takes a complete repad with washing all parts just to get rid of it, hoping none got stuck to the case.
IMO it's a terrible method that has no real advantage at all. I guess the only situation that it's ok is when both repairer and player are smokers and the player doesn't mind the smell.
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2012-07-27 11:53
That was a common way to check for leaks when I was a student, 50s-60s. It worked well but left the pads with a dark color, probably not so good. Remember, back then so many of us smoked so we already smelled from smoke. When I came to the BSO in 63 the entire clarinet section, as well as many other wind players, smoked. After all, the commericials told us how healthy it was for us back then. I was able to quit several years later and several, but not all, followed shortly. Because it was so common and handy to use that technique many of us checked for leaks that way.
ESP eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: jparrette
Date: 2012-07-27 13:47
If your repair tech doesn't have a Magnehelic leak machine within arm's reach on his bench, get a new repair tech.
The cigarette method is absolutely inexcusable.
John Parrette
CLARION MUSICAL SERVICES
john@clarionmusical.com
914-805-3388
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2012-07-27 14:02
>> If your repair tech doesn't have a Magnehelic leak machine within arm's reach on his bench, get a new repair tech. <<
I have one and completely disagree with that...
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Author: vljenewein
Date: 2012-07-27 15:08
No repair tech, just a newbie learning. It is restored and VERY playable. Wooden Boosey & Hawkes - London. Pretty wood!
I used a piece of cigarette paper (Zig-Zag) and felt how much drag I got on the pads when they were down and adjusted the pad accordingly. Often it was just a re-heat of the cup with my butane micro torch for 2 seconds and genly pull down or move around the pad with a tiny screwdriver against the side of the pad. I used low temp hot melt glue with a low temp mini glue gun I got at Walmart for $2.97.
Then, when all done, I put the sections all back in the case, put the case in my car, and left it in the car when at work. Was very warm day, in the mid 80's and I think it helped to allow the pads to become warm with the wood and with that slight pressure all day long. End of day, I corked all the holes shut and blew into it and seemed very tight now. Assembled it, and have NO problems with air leaks playing. I played 'Oh Christmas Tree' by ear, and even had to use the one uppper registry key to get that higher note and didn't squeak, or give any problems. I've only got about 35-45 minutes on a clarinet so far. But, this Boosey & Hawkes has come along very nicely. Just learning... just a newbie, but I have figured out how to play songs on it. Just don't have any idea on the notes I'm using to get there. LOL
Vernon
Jenewein Duduks Manufacturing & Research
www.duduk.us American made Duduks
Post Edited (2012-07-27 15:14)
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Author: A Brady
Date: 2012-07-27 15:27
I was walking by my high school band director's office one day in the early 70s and he called me in, took my clarinet from me, lit a cigarette, and proceeded to do exactly this technique. I remember thinking it was cool at the time, but my clarinet absolutely reeked of smoke for at least a week afterwards, which I found disgusting, even though I was experimenting with tobacco myself in those days. Times have definitely changed.
AB
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2012-07-27 16:41
Probably could use a hooka and avoid above problems but I don't like the whole idea anyway.
Suction, positive pressure, feeler guage.........period.
................Paul Aviles
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2012-07-27 18:40
I would have to disembowel anyone who ever blew smoke from tobacco or pot into my instrument. Disgusting!
Jeff
“Everyone discovers their own way of destroying themselves, and some people choose the clarinet.” Kalman Opperman, 1919-2010
"A drummer is a musician's best friend."
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2012-07-29 22:54
This thread brings back memories. I sarted on clarinet in 1957. The repairman with the best reputation in town (a well-deserved reputation, imho) blew cigarette smoke into my clarinet to check for leaks two or three years later when I started getting consistent squeaks here and there. He did a great job of restoring what needed fixing, but pee-yew, he made my clarinet and case stink.
I think he blew smoke into the clarinet because, hey, he might as well, since he smoked like an active volcano all the time anyway. His smoke technique worked extremely well, but that's because he was an extremely good repairman. Any other techinique he'd learned instead would've worked just as well, imho.
One or both of my parents always escorted me there (though I never heard about him doing or saying anything inappropriate to a customer), because he festooned the wall behind his workbench with Playboy centerfolds. You wanted that clarinet fixed so it'd stay fixed, you went to Cy. Anybody who didn't like the nudies could take a running jump. Just going into his shop long enough to buy a pack of reeds made me smell like a dirty ashtray. Once in high school orchestra when I opened up my case on the seat next to my friend the second clarinetist, he took a sniff-sniff-sniff at the open case and said, "Smells like you've been to Cy's."
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
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Author: vljenewein
Date: 2012-07-30 04:37
Well, I've only got the Zig-Zag papers... very thin, to check the gap. I used to smoke and so did my wife. We seem to notice it more now.
Went to Grand Rapids today to look at a Clarinet in the ads marked Everett for $30.00. It was an Evette made in Germany. Brought it home, cleaned it up, and contrary to the Craigslist ad, it needed 2 pads and the cork between the 2 joints was there but loose as all get out! I replaced the pads and used the cigarette paper and adjusted with mini torch, the hot glue. and when all done the upper joint, plugged with corks, held real tight. So I would imagine that cigarette smoke would/could show leaks, but it's a quick and "Dirty" way.
Lelia, you ought to try a Duduk some time to annoy the cats! If you search on YouTube you can hear this quite beautiful instrument. Played a lot in background movies, it invokes the idea of middle east, Israeli, or such music. Was used by Chris Bleth (Friend) in movies "Passion Of The Christ". Our toy fox terriers finally got used to it, but Echo, our girl TFT does not care at ALL when I open the clarinet case. When I started a few weeks ago trying, I had no teeth and really squeaked until I got a bit of the hang of it. I know... off topic. But had to share about the new member of the family, an Evette with SN 87336, and right above that it says West Germany. So might be one of the latter Evettes that were made in Germany.
Vernon
Jenewein Duduks Manufacturing & Research
www.duduk.us American made Duduks
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