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Re: Building up a key

Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2015-10-01 09:20

You can break a key with multiple bending, but that's unlikely. I've done my own repairs since about 1975 or so and you may want to try assorted sizes of cork. I get my stock of cork from J J Smith. Nice folks there. Buy the sheets that you might use to replace the corks on the joints. Then go to your local hardware store and buy some Contact Cement. Be careful here. Don't buy Rubber Cement. Cut a peace off using something sharp like a razor blade, very sharp scissors, and put the cement on both the key and the cork. Let the glue dry for 10 minutes or so before attaching the cork to the key. The cool part is you can sand it smaller or make it thicker by adding another layer of cork. Actually, you can probably buy everything from J J Smith and save yourself a lot of running around. Total cost would probably be under $15, enough cork for the rest of your life, the contact cement and a razor. Use about 600 grit sandpaper for a smooth finish.

Then you will have a pretty good idea of what the ideal position is for you. If you want to get fancy and have some fun, take the key off after you feel you have it about right and spray the cork silver. Tape the key first so you don't get over stray spray on the key that doesn't have cork on it. You'd be surprised how good it will look. Get the silver spray at an auto store, or you can actually use nail polish!

You could spray it gold, blue, red, whatever, and fellow clarinet players will surely wonder whats up with that!

Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces

Yamaha Artist 2015

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Building up a key new

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2015-10-01 04:37