 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Uffdahhhbabe
Date: 2015-07-25 01:35
Hi: I am trying to recork and repad my husband's grandfathers' vintage clarinet (Henry Gunckel). I m not able to separate the bell from the lower section, or doesn't it separate? Any suggestions? Also, should I be doing this or find a professional? Thanks.
Lori E.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Chris P
Date: 2015-07-25 01:46
The bell should separate but if it has been left on the lower joint for decades then it can fuse on as the cork will have stuck to the inside of the socket. It can be removed, but it has to be done with both a certain degree of force and care so nothing gets broken.
I've had instances of fused bells where the tenon cork has come adrift from the tenon slot when the glue failed, so the bell will rotate on the tenon but won't come off.
Don't use oil as that will contaminate the wood and may prevent the adhesive from sticking when it comes to fitting a new tenon cork, but you can use denatured alcohol or solvent a drop at a time and that will seep into the joint which may help to free things - alcohol or solvents won't cause the wood to swell as water would and it'll also evaporate. But don't use solvent if it's a plastic clarinet as it will dissolve plastics.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Uffdahhhbabe
Date: 2015-07-25 01:55
Thank you for the quick response. I look forward to trying your suggestions. FYI...the clarinet is wood. Thanks again.
Lori E.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: BartHx
Date: 2015-07-25 02:00
You don't say what, if any, experience you have in repairing clarinets. Given the emotional connection to this instrument, if you are not fully confident in replacing pads and corks, you should probably be talking to a professional. If it has been stored in the case with the bell in place, but has a metal ring where you would expect to find the top of the bell, it probably does separate. Some cases require that the instrument be stored partially assembled and the joints can, over time, get stuck. You will probably get a lot of suggestions on how to unstick a stuck joint. Just keep in mind that the bell tenon is where the wood is thinnest. Try to avoid a force that might crack or break the wood. Good luck. I recently did the same thing for a former student whose husband had the same relation to that instrument (late 1920s Bundy Paris) as yours does to his. He was thrilled that I had been able to restore his "family treasure" to playing condition.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Uffdahhhbabe
Date: 2015-07-25 02:15
I have no professional experience in repairing. I just took care of my clarinet in high school, replacing pads, etc. I have tried looking for someone in our city (medium size city) but have not found anyone. How do you go about finding one? Colleges?
Also, this clarinet was not in a case. Don't know what happened to it? Might have to find one.
Lori E.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: GeorgeL ★2017
Date: 2015-07-25 19:15
"How do you go about finding one? Colleges?"
Try to find some good local clarinetists; they will know good repair people.
To find clarinetists, a college music department or a high school music teacher would be a place to start.
Use Google to find a local (or relatively local) professional or community band or orchestra. They will have clarinet players.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: John Peacock
Date: 2015-07-27 17:53
There are two possible problems, and you don't say which you have. It's possible that the bell is stuck and doesn't move; but sometimes the bell can be freely rotated but can't be pulled off. In the latter case, the cork has bound to the socket on the bell, but detached from the tenon. This is trickier to solve: at least in the first case you know the bell will probably come off if you twist hard enough, and the only concern is not breaking something.
The advice written above seems to refer to the first case. To that, I would add that I have had success by gently warming the top of the bell, including the ring. You can do this by putting a small damp towel in a microwave and then wrapping it round. That expands things enough that gentle rocking/twisting opens up a small gap. Then you can slip a knife blade in that and continue to rock to lever the joint open.
If it's the second problem then your best hope is that the old cork will disintegrate entirely in due course. Try to lever the gap open as above and keep rotating the bell while pulling gently. Flooding it will bore oil will probably help - you can always de-grease it afterwards.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
