The Clarinet BBoard

The Clarinet BBoard The C4 standard

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

Newer Topic | Older Topic

'Open' grain lines on barrel

Author: Kazza3
Date: 2012-08-12 04:44

I may be having a massive overreaction here, but:

I recently noticed that a number of the grain lines (or however that should be put) on one of my barrels are 'open'- rather than being just visible, filled-in dark lines with no change of height from the surrounding wood, they are more like little minuscule crevices, both on the exterior and interior of the barrel, frequently partially filled with some kind of light-coloured material (lint/oil/grease mix?). Similarly light grain lines can be seen on the edges of the interior of the top joint.
This is from a Buffet Festival, which was serviced and oiled only 2 months ago. However, this barrel (stock 65mm) is the one which I haven't normally used, only bringing it out again recently due to a mpc change. So though I tried to be careful with re-breaking it in after a year or more of almost disuse (and even though a similar thing seems to be happening to the top joint, perhaps ruling this out as a cause) it got me a little concerned, though I think they're not contiguous enough and too numerous to be hairline cracks. Since it's an alternate barrel, it's also possible that it wasn't oiled with the rest of the clarinet (the socket areas underneath where the tenon ring would sit do seem particularly light/dry), but again, that doesn't explain the top joint.

Again, this may be an overreaction, as they're not really noticeable in ordinary light and use, only in direct light, and it's probably a normal thing, but.. better to be safe than sorry. Should I be concerned, or should I oil it?

Reply To Message

Re: 'Open' grain lines on barrel

Author: Chris P
Date: 2012-08-12 10:14

Wood has vessels in it which vary in size throughout the timber, so it's not uncommon for there to be open vessels on the surface once the joint has been machined. Most of them get filled in during polishing, but they're still present.

My old Eb from 1962 has a long open vessel running along a fair length of the surface of the body joint on left side (as you're playing it), but it's hardly anything to worry about.

Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.

Reply To Message

Re: 'Open' grain lines on barrel

Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2012-08-12 12:31

Open grain is very common and nothing to worry about. In fact, some experts say it's preferable. See http://test.woodwind.org/Databases/lookup.php/Klarinet/1999/05/000596.txt and http://test.woodwind.org/Databases/lookup.php/Klarinet/2004/08/000053.txt.

The Buffet representative François Kloc says Buffet clarinets will not need oiling for many years and recommends against it. My R13s date from the early 1970s and have never been oiled.

Ken Shaw

Reply To Message

Avail. Forums | Threaded View

Newer Topic | Older Topic

The Clarinet Pages

For Sale
Put your ads for items you'd like to sell here. Free! Please, no more than two at a time - ads removed after two weeks.