 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: BGBG
Date: 2018-07-13 02:17
Found today after playing the cork on the top section where it fits into the bottom section was loose and rotating. Thiis has never happened before. Is there anything I should do except wait until it dries out from playing?
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Author: Kalashnikirby
Date: 2018-07-13 02:26
Yup, replace it or have it replaced. A friend of mine neglected that problem and ended up chipping part of the tenon. Did you always use a good quality cork grease? Is the cork older, or often dry?
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2018-07-13 03:01
For any repair department at any music store, this is an easy fix. But don't wait. It needs to be fixed.
.............Paul Aviles
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2018-07-13 04:20
After having the new tenon cork fitted, use a good quality cork grease. I recommend La Tromba: https://www.musik-produktiv.co.uk/img/00/77/12/007712065l.jpg
The lipstick-style ones are often made from a very thin grease that soaks through the cork and destroys the adhesive bonding the cork to the tenon which is most likely why the cork has come adrift.
I've seen this happen a lot on Bundy clarinets.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: BGBG
Date: 2018-07-13 07:19
Clarinet is an E-11 and is 4 years old, has had no real problems, and never checked. Believe I will take it to the store where I bought it for I do not feel comfortable doing something like this, as simple as it seems. I set it aside and it has dried pretty much but still is loose and rotates. I use cork grease maybe every 2-3 times although I used to use it every time. Right now it is Dr Slick Cork Treatment in a tube and a tub.
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2018-07-13 08:44
It's actually very important to replace it as soon as you can. What players often forget this can cause your horn to leak air badly, causing squeaks and stuffy notes.
I think a decent price is about $15 or so, from a music store and a tech might charge you $10. Music stores have to make a few bucks.
If you can watch the repairman do this repair you should be able to do future repairs yourself. Lot's of videos on youtube. It's that easy.
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
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Author: jbutler ★2017
Date: 2018-07-13 18:49
My 2ยข is ditch cork grease and use mink oil paste after applying a coating of beeswax to seal the cork. I used it long ago in HS and college and got away from it. I got back to using it a few years ago after I was using and promoting a certain all natural cork grease. Customers were coming in all the time with these "spinners" and haven't seen one in quite some time now after telling them to ditch that particular brand. Mink oil paste is easily found on that site owned by Bezos.
Post Edited (2018-07-13 21:49)
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Author: BGBG
Date: 2018-07-13 22:00
After panic attack over I looked in my notes and see that on 3-2-2017 I watched a you tube video, ordered 4 tenon corks from Florida, and replaced the top joint UPPER tenon cork. It is still fine and if I can find the other 3 corks and still have the contact cement my confidence has increased to the point where I feel I can again replace a cork, this time the bottom one since other is doing fine. Will let you know. No problem taking it to a repair person and I can afford it but would like to do it myself.
By the way, I re-read my post of 2-22-2017. Have 3 new corks and the contact cement. Think I will use a new rather than cutting and reapplying the old.
Post Edited (2018-07-13 22:15)
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2018-07-14 08:30
>> Think I will use a new rather than cutting and reapplying the old. <<
It's next to impossible to reglue a "spinner". First they usually become that way because grease and/or dirt ruined the glue, so the surface is soaked with grease. Second, you can't do an overlap joint.
>> I was using and promoting a certain all natural cork grease. Customers were coming in all the time with these "spinners" <<
I'm pretty sure I know what type you mean. It's about ten years that a lot of people use it here and I see very few "spinners", almost none from those using it. However I prefer Alisyn cork grease. It's different from any other I've seen, like a very thick, less greasy hand cream, but unless you buy a pound, it comes in a terrible flimsy container that I can't recommend carrying in a case.
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Author: BGBG
Date: 2018-07-17 03:09
REPORT: SUCCESS ! But then I find I did it once a year ago. Reviewed and followed the Dale Barton you tube video on tenon cork replacement, took about an hour to do, and finished up and tested it. Also looked at a few other videos to see what suited me best. Seemed to work fine. Did not really want to leave my clarinet somewhere to accomplish This. Really easy. Have 2 corks left in case recurs.
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Author: Slowoldman
Date: 2018-07-17 03:41
What thickness of cork is usually used for tenons?
And which vendors seem to have the best quality cork for this purpose?
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2018-07-17 08:09
1.2mm and 1.6mm are the most common thicknesses. I used to buy from a place that had them in 0.1mm increments, but I don't anymore because it's not needed (most places don't have anything between those two sizes) plus the consistency wasn't really accurate to 0.1mm anyway. Only occasionally thicker or thinner is needed, but I rather not use thicker than 1.6mm (I use a layer of another material instead). Actually I sometimes use 1.2mm and a layer of another material instead of 1.6mm cork.
AFAIK almost all (if not all?) suppliers get their cork from the same couple of places in Portugal. Suppliers in North America usually get it from the same distributor in Canada (not sure if they are just an importer or also a manufacturer). I got the same quality from just about all suppliers, with the exception of one I definitely wouldn't buy from. I rather not mention here but I can email you if interested.
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Author: BGBG
Date: 2018-07-17 21:57
Any special way to use mink oil paste, or just wipe it on an off?
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2018-07-17 22:52
Mink oil paste? What are you using that for?
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: BGBG
Date: 2018-07-18 01:11
Not using it. Never even heard of it but thought someone mentioned it above (jbutler post # 7 from top) and I was curious as to how to use t. I never used chap-stick but just ordinary cork grease until I switched to Dr Slick. Have a lipstick type and a round tub or jar. But using "any old cork grease" and maybe too often in the beginning is what led to cork loosening in the first place. And maybe I used it too much but now about only once or twice a week and a small amount. No idea what any of this stuff is made of but can see why solvents in it might loosen cork cement over time. I used Weldwood contact cement this time for I had it on hand. and mineral spirits to wipe tenon with. The cork strips were pre-cut and came from a place in Florida.
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Author: BGBG
Date: 2018-07-19 07:10
MINK OIL PASTE: Is mink oil paste better than Dr Slick?
And where do you get Beeswax?
Post Edited (2018-07-19 22:27)
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2018-07-19 16:23
I only use and only recommend La Tromba cork grease.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2018-07-19 21:01
I'm not seeing the "beeswax" reference in the prior posts above (I am old and impatient), but to answer the search question, I find cakes of 100% beeswax at local craft fairs. Of course there is always......the internet.
...........Paul Aviles
Post Edited (2018-07-19 21:35)
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Author: BGBG
Date: 2018-07-19 22:59
CHRIS: I took your advice and ordered a small quantity of La Tromba to try.
Paul: F.Y.I. 'beeswax' is in jbutler post # 7 near end of first line.
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Author: jbutler ★2017
Date: 2018-07-19 23:26
Beeswax can be obtained at any hardware store in my area. A phone call could confirm if yours carries it. Mink oil paste can be obtained on that web site owned by Bezos that starts with an "A" and ends in "N". I bet beeswax bars can be had there too.
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Author: jbutler ★2017
Date: 2018-07-19 23:27
I use mink oil paste just like cork grease. Looks about the same too. Just comes in a tub or tin.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2018-07-20 01:07
An old home-made recipe for cork grease was beeswax and tallow melted and mixed together in the same pan, then poured into tins and left to cool down to form a thick, heavy cork grease.
You could probably add some drops of lavender oil or another scented oil to make it smell more pleasant than rancid old lamb fat. I just read on La Tromba's site they have a synthetic cork grease that's "similar to the traditional deer suet, but not subject to any ageing process".
http://cfs-kriens.ch/en/woodwind-2.shtml
Probably fairly similar to mink oil being that it's a sebaceous secretion is lanolin - I know of a trumpet player who uses lanolin on his slides.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: kdk
Date: 2018-07-20 02:40
McQueen's Pure Mutton Tallow works very well - good consistency and doesn't have any odor. The only problem with it is that it has, since I learned from my teacher in college about it, become a little hard to buy. Used to be sold in pharmacies, but I recently have had to buy it online (I think on Amazon) in a box of a dozen 1 oz. tins, which is enough for about four lifetimes for a single player.
I came back to the mutton tallow after a couple of years of using a popular commercial cork grease during which I had three tenon corks come loose.
Karl
Post Edited (2018-07-25 06:31)
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Author: BGBG
Date: 2018-07-22 01:33
Decided to try some Mutton Tallow just for curiosity. Not McQueen's though but EKO.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2018-07-22 09:06
I wouldb't use mink oil or other mink products because, AFAIK (someone correct me if it's wrong), it's a byproduct of the fur industry. At least something like mutton tallow has to be a byproduct of the food industry (I still wouldn't use it but at least it's not the fur industry which has a very specific purpose).
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Author: BGBG
Date: 2018-07-25 00:51
So far I have all but the mutton tallow. I took a paper towel and some lighter fluid and wiped the corks. ince only one clarinet and 3 mouthpieces, or 6 pieces of cork total I have net yet decided which or how to use. Maybe the beeswax is for sealing the cork but not for every play use. If so that leaves the mink oil, tallow when I get it, and La Tromba. Maybe try each on certain corks. Any suggestions? I am not sure that Doctor Slick lipstick or tub is bad because I did use other greases originally and every day before I switched. So far now two corks have become spinners, both on upper section, and both of which I successfully repaired. One failed in 3rd year, the other in the 4th year.
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Author: shmuelyosef
Date: 2018-07-25 23:59
I have used Dr Slick from "Doctor's Products". I have used this on clarinet and saxophone corks, and never had a glue failure. All my customers who use it also have the same experience. I use the grease in the tubs for the first few insertions (when I first install the tenon corks), and then use the sticks.
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Author: BGBG
Date: 2018-07-26 00:53
I have been using the Dr Slick "lipstick" and tub type recently but was using various other types befor that and was thinking maybe any penetration could be from earlier types or the use each time assembled and never wiping off. Now only put a little on finger and wipe it on the cork, use sparingly, and wipe it off frequently with a clotch, tissue, or toothbrush. It DOES tend to 'build'.
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