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Repair of tone hole in plastic clarinet

Author: shmuelyosef
Date: 2017-09-27 23:13
Attachment: LH_ring_finger_hole.jpg (171k)

I have here a Vito V40 in exceptional condition that is barely played and mostly just needs pads, corks and some regulation; everything is tight, but the soft materials are dead.

Likely the reason it was not played is that the LH ring finger tonehole was badly drilled; looks like a dull drill pushed too fast. The rim is slightly melted and pushed up and there are a couple of tiny chips...picture attached.

My first reaction was to just use a tonehole dresser to clean it up like I might on an older clarinet, although I have never had an issue with the plain 'bored' hole. The hole is 5/16" diameter and the biggest dressing tool I have is a 3/8", which would put a steep edge on the hole. Would it be better to get a larger dressing tool?

Alternatively, I could sand off the raised bits and patch the chips with some epoxy loaded with carbon black and then file it back to shape; more work, but maybe better?

Given the value of the clarinet (despite the fact that these are very nice) I am resisting the option of machining a thinwall insert and filing that down...way too much work...in many ways it is easier to fix/replace a ring or padded tonehole!

Curious if anyone has a better idea.

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