 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2020-02-10 04:10
Hi All,
I have relied on a good friend from MP measurements when I visit with him. However, I think it is time I had my own set of the Erick Brand tools. Does anyone know who is selling them?
Thanks,
HRL
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2020-02-10 06:33
Not an actual, original Erick Brand kit, but both Theo Wanne and Lomax market kits.
You can also buy the components individually - you need a tip gauge for the tip opening and a glass gauge with graduated markings and a set of flat feeler gauges to measure the curve. If you want your length measurements to compare to ones given by commercial mouthpiece companies, the thinnest feeler should be .0015 inch.
IMO, a good, accurate taper gauge for tip measurements is more reliable than the much more expensive dial gauges that account for a lot of the cost of the kits. I find that the dial gauges are too fussy about exactly how I line the mouthpiece up on the table and my result is too variable.
Karl
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Author: donald
Date: 2020-02-10 09:45
I will need a new tip gauge soon- where in the USA could I get that on its own? (the other bits are not worn, just the tip gauge). thanks dn
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Author: Grabnerwg
Date: 2020-02-10 16:57
You can get clarinet measuring tools from Music Medic
https://musicmedic.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=mouthpiece+tip+gauge
Walter Grabner
www.clarinetxpress.com
847-266-8644
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Author: Mojo
Date: 2020-02-10 17:21
I’m not a fan of wand gauges. As they wear, they gradually measure larger tip openings than actual.
Babbitt sells them and glass gauges too. Or at least they used to. But you need to call or email them. Their glass gauges has nice thin lines. They offer them in end zero and setback designs. I like the setback design.
Inexpensive feelers can be found at automotive parts stores. People used to gap spark plugs with them. Look for a set with a .0015” size in them.
If you need larger sizes for sax mouthpiece work, there is no easy solution.
MojoMP.com
Mojo Mouthpiece Work LLC
MojoMouthpieceWork@yahoo.com
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2020-02-10 17:41
Mojo wrote:
> I’m not a fan of wand gauges. As they wear, they gradually
> measure larger tip openings than actual.
For those of us who only measure our own mouthpieces occasionally, mostly to compare them to other mother mouthpieces we've gotten our hands on, do you think the wear factor is significant? As a pro refacer you measure a lot more mouthpiece tips than I do or than Hank probably will, so you put a lot more wear on your gauges.
If you really think the wands thin out over time, what do you recommend? What do you use yourself?
Karl
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2020-02-10 19:23
Thanks everyone for the quick replies and the excellent advice. I think the Music Medic source is what I'll use.
HRL
I do remember the use of feeler gauges with distributor points setting.
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Author: Dan Shusta
Date: 2020-02-10 23:01
Another possible way to measure tip openings on clarinet and sax mouthpieces:
I like Paul Coats' response from a thread on the SOTW.
https://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?13655-Measuring-tip-opening
I suggest to start reading in the middle of his response with the paragraph which begins with "A better way with the caliper."
I'm not really keen on his idea of drilling an insertion hole through the glass because I believe the tip measurement can be made at the very end of the plate glass with the mouthpiece just slightly protruding beyond the edge of the glass. Then use the depth probe and gently push against the mouthpiece tip until the caliper just hits flatly against the bottom glass plate. Then subtract the thickness of the glass and you have the measurement size of the tip opening.
I believe this method should work accurately on any clarinet or sax mouthpiece.
By the way, MusicMedic's least expensive caliper has an accuracy of 0.0005" or 0.01mm. https://musicmedic.com/products/repair-tools/measuring-tools.html
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Author: Mojo
Date: 2020-02-11 18:09
I started out using calipers and a glass gauge held along the table. I used the inside calipers between the glass and the inside of the tip rail. It works but I eventually stopped doing it that way because it takes a little extra time and skill to hold the mouthpiece, glass, and calipers in the proper position for a good reading.
I mostly use a machinists’ depth gauge with a 6” base. But I use a dial gauge mounted on a base too. Mine was custom made by a friend. The Wanne gauge looks good.
Here is a video showing my gauges.
https://youtu.be/KXgF2OXnxhA
MojoMP.com
Mojo Mouthpiece Work LLC
MojoMouthpieceWork@yahoo.com
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Author: Ed
Date: 2020-02-11 19:13
I listed another option only to find it is no longer commercially available.
Post Edited (2020-02-11 19:16)
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