The Clarinet BBoard

The Clarinet BBoard The C4 standard

New Topic | Go to Top | Go to Topic | Search | Help/Rules | Smileys/Notes | Log In

Previous Message | Next Message

Re: Buffet E12

Author: clarnibass
Date: 2018-08-17 09:03

>> MAZAK was used by B & H at one time for keywork. It's based on zinc, so it's probably not magnetic. <<

I've seen only a couple of those and never checked if it was magnetic... but a few machine parts that were supposedly made of ZAMAK/MAZAK were magnetic... but maybe it was a different alloy with other things in it.

>> FWIW, this is an E12F. <<

I see more than a few of those, they are pretty popular here now, but I've never checked anything about the trill key guide. It might be the same terrible material Chris mentioned they use for the thumb rest.
I'll check what I can check next time I see one.

>> So, I always heard as a kid that cast keys tend to be brittle and not very malleable, which might explain the way the piece snapped off. Is that a true characteristic of cast metal parts? <<

Casting just refers to the method used to make them. Cast brass or nickel-silver keys might make them about as soft as they get, I'm not an expert but it is essentially getting them hotter than even annealing heat (since it's liquid). Maybe something about the casting causes a difference from annealing? Not sure. The specific alloy of brass or nickel silver can make a difference.

Copper alloys parts can be annealed after casting anyway, which would make them as soft as they can be (if they weren't already). So keys being cast or not basically means nothing to how soft or hard they are.

ZAMAK/MAZAK is more brittle in general and I guess specific alloy can vary too. I think this alloy is used mostly (or only?) for cast parts, as a lower cost material and method for mass production.

Copper alloys work harden which happens for cold forged keys (whic some clarinets have) and also for keys that are mostly cut to shape and then pressed (kind of similar to forging but less work hardening).

Reply To Message | Avail. Forums | Flat View

Newer Topic | Older Topic

Topics