 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Funnpun
Date: 2012-11-10 01:52
I know that if the swab becomes fluffy due to over washing, dust may collect in the tone holes. What's the best way to wash the swab to slow this process down?
Also, what's a good swab material?
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Author: Timmy7930
Date: 2012-11-10 02:00
The only "best" way is, to get a new swab. After washing it, the durability of the swab decays and much bacteria grows on the swab that you can't get rid of. The best swabs are the cotton ones but the silk gem ones last longer. I personally like the buffet crampon swabs the best but they are a little pricey but when it comes to washing they handle this process much better. Just to recap, I DO NOT recommend you wash your swabs but instead, get a new one.
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Author: Funnpun
Date: 2012-11-10 02:10
I'm using the Buffet swab. How long would it typically last? I play everyday.
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Author: pewd
Date: 2012-11-10 04:21
I use a Gem brand silk swab and throw the cotton ones away.
I wash the Gem maybe 3x a year if I remember, hand washed with a drop of liquid soap in the sink, warm water.
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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Author: jacobhardy25
Date: 2012-11-10 05:34
In terms of Material, don't use cotton. Use silk because it is a lot easier on the clarinet and helps maintain it better. Even if you have to swab it a little more than a cotton one it is much better. Hope this helped!
Jake Hardy
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2012-11-10 07:54
It is usually possible to see if the swab sheds fibers. IMO the swab doesn't need to be washed so often... but just look and if you think it is not good anymore buy a new one. A good swab usually lasts at least some years.
I also don't recommend cotton swabs. IME they are in the general the most likely to shed fibers that get into the tone holes and also by far most stuck swabs I see are cotton.
I'm not crazy about silk swabs because they just don't seem to be absorbent enough. I've only tried a few (Doctor's Products, Gem and maybe one other). It seems to be a combination of both the material absorbing less water and their softness/smoothness that make them move moothly through the bore, possibly adding to them being less absorbent. For this reason they are also less likely to get stuck, but I don't like them anyway.
My favorite is the Vandoren red microfiber swab (and not Vandoren's cotton swab, which is by far one of the worst). It is absorbing excellent and sheds nothing. It is slightly big and is more likely to get stuck in comparison with the silk swabs, but just be a little careful and should be fine (true for any swab).
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Author: Ed
Date: 2012-11-10 10:42
I have been using the Gem swab for years. I wash it as needed. Mine works well and they last a long time.
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2012-11-10 10:50
I use home made swabs made from old tees (once they aren't good enough any longer even for in bed). Washed a zillion times, they have no more fibers to shed. And they absorb the moisture really well.
When it starts looking and smelling funky, I usually toss it.
Edit: I remember having read thad old silk ties can serve well as swabs too.
--
Ben
Post Edited (2012-11-10 10:51)
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Author: The Doctor ★2017
Date: 2012-11-10 17:19
(Disclaimer - I make a high quality silk swab)
Silk is the most absorbent natural fiber - many pieces of silk however have a chemical fabric treatment called "sizing" which unless removed will decrease absorbency. A quality silk swab should last for years and should be washed in a delicate detergent like Woolite and air dried. Cotton swabs will leave lint behind which builds up in the tone holes. The right kind of microfiber is also a good swab material.
The shape of the swab IMO makes a difference in the amount of moisture removed because most swabs will compress and only the edges of the folded material will touch the bore to remove moisture. A swab can be designed to fold into more of a tube shape which puts more swab material in contact with the bore. The mass of the swab will also make a difference but too much or the wrong shape may catch on the register tube or get stuck in the bore. There is more to swab design than one could imagine!
L. Omar Henderson
new websites: www.doctorsprod.com www.chedevillemp.com
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Author: Timmy7930
Date: 2012-11-10 18:45
To ALL that say silk swabs are better, it depends on the person and what they prefer. There are some ups and downs to cotton and silk swabs. For example cotton is much more absorbent so it's good for wood clarinets. The silk ones last longer and stay "cleaner".
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2012-11-10 19:02
I find my cotton swabs last for many years. I have been playing for 50+ years and have never washed a swab in all that time.
OK I wouldn't use someone else's old swab but you do get resistant to your own germs!!
As grannies of old used to say - You've got to eat a little dirt.
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Author: Ron Scholer
Date: 2012-11-11 02:38
I kind of feel these should be cleaned around once every week or 2. Germs.
BA, MA, MSE, MST
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2012-11-11 21:40
I am really torn about swabs.
Cotton absorbs (I mean really absorbs) better, but the silk moves more freely and they are by far much better made products.
The Doctor's Swab is my favorite which I've used for years (without cleaning I'm afraid) because it's built like a tank. The GEMs are also pretty good because the weighted end will maintain it's rubber coating a long time (this is how I judge when the swab must go - if the rubber is more than half gone on the weight).
..............Paul Aviles
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2012-11-13 03:09
I've been using my Gem silk swab for at least five years, maybe longer. I can't remember the last time I replaced it. I'm a professional and swab out a lot. It's very obsorbent and does a great job. I know I should but I hardly every wash it, sorry.
ESP eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2012-11-13 03:44
I believe The Doctor that silk is the most absorbent natural fiber, so I guess it's possible that the silk swabs I've tried were less absorbent for different reasons (e.g. their shape, possibly the way they are made, maybe mixed with other mateirals?).
>> I am really torn about swabs. <<
Have you tried the Vandoren microfiber swab? If they made it just a fraction smaller it would be perfect, but as it is I still prefer it over anything else. Very absorbent, doesn't shed like many cotton swabs, doesn't wear much, etc.
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Author: Ed
Date: 2012-11-13 14:55
Quote:
The GEMs are also pretty good because the weighted end will maintain it's rubber coating a long time (this is how I judge when the swab must go - if the rubber is more than half gone on the weight)
When the rubber wears, I have just wrapped it with some teflon tape or a layer or two of tape to get a little more life if the swab is still in good shape.
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Author: Brent
Date: 2012-11-13 16:06
Or you can use a length of shrink tubing over it, if size permits. (this is flexible plastic tubing that shrinks when exposed to high heat--used in electrical applications)
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Author: Ron Scholer
Date: 2012-11-13 23:29
A chemist would have a blast checking out clarinet swabs under a microscrope!
Since farmers are cloning corn, maybe a chemist can clone a clarinet? Just a thought! Hmmm now I'm wondering what the cloned clarinet would look like! scary...
BA, MA, MSE, MST
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Author: SchlockRod
Date: 2012-11-21 18:44
Our local newspaper is called the Observer. I call it the Absorber as it makes a good fish wrap. But I wouldn't swab my clarinet with it.
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Author: BartHx
Date: 2012-11-22 03:48
Quote:
The GEMs are also pretty good because the weighted end will maintain it's rubber coating a long time (this is how I judge when the swab must go - if the rubber is more than half gone on the weight)
At the hardware store, you can get a can of paint on, liquid electrical insulation. If the rubber coating on the weight starts to come off, peel it the rest of the way off and dip the weight into the insulation to replace the coating. This gives you the option of washing the swab and still replacing any coating that gets damaged in the process. I believe it is the same material they use for coating the weight when it is new.
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