 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Classical Saxophonist
Date: 2014-05-16 02:08
I just got a nice used wooden clarinet (Selmer Signet 100). Should I be paranoid about cracks? I'm trying to play it for 15-20 mins a day to break it in. If it does crack, would it be relatively easy for me to repair with thin super glue?
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2014-05-16 02:53
If it's used and has previously been well looked after, then cracks will be less likely to happen, but that's not to say they can't happen. Surface cracks can be filled with superglue and tidied up to blend invisibly in with the joint suface, but don't use wax or grease or anything else to fill cracks with as that will cause problems with adhesives later on.
Don't get too bogged down in worry, but do your best to maintain it well - always dry the bore during and after playing, wipe the sockets dry with kitchen towel after playing (don't use your pullthrough for this as you'll get grease in the bore and toneholes), wipe the keywork and joints with a soft cloth or old t-shirt after playing and always put it away in its case after playing to prevent any accidental damage or compressed tenon corks.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2014-05-16 08:39
>> Should I be paranoid about cracks? <<
You shouldn't be paranoid... in general.
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Author: Ed
Date: 2014-05-16 16:22
Sometimes cracks occur. You get it fixed and keep playing. I would not sweat it.
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Author: BobD
Date: 2014-05-16 21:15
"Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they are not out to get you"
Bob Draznik
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Author: cyclopathic
Date: 2014-05-17 04:38
if it hasn't been played for a while, then yeah, you should be.
It can crack because wood dried out and contracted, and when you play the bore/tonehole surface gets wet and expands. If not enough time given to equalize moisture content throughout, resulting stress could fracture wood
If it were me I'd take keys off, clean it and oil wood with bore oil in/out. You could do it w/o taking keys off, half dozen of Qtips and wrap pads with aluminum foil. Give it a week to absorb. If it dries quickly (<2 days), re-oil. Dry out pad contact area with paper towel 1-2 days prior to taking foil off.
If you decide against oiling, at very least do 10-15min break-in for a couple weeks good luck
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Author: J. J.
Date: 2014-05-17 16:59
Don't do what's listed above. Be reasonable about it and enjoy it. Definitely don't remove the keys oil it.
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Author: Wes
Date: 2014-05-18 01:38
I bought a Selmer Signet 100 for my granddaughter a few years ago and overhauled it carefully. I also did a bit of tuning adjustment on it. It became a very good clarinet and I would be pleased to use it any time instead of my Buffet. It has the tenon caps which may help a little with preventing cracks.
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