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Re: Clarinet Swedging Tools

Author: clarnibass
Date: 2020-05-20 09:24

Most repairers eventually have many swedging tools because it depends on the key and what you want to do.

The Ferree's collet swedger is a good starting point. It's very good for swedging axial play, ok but not great for a little end play, I don't bother with it for extreme end play.
You can also only swedge the ends of hinge tubes with it, and only when there is enough to grip (nothing soldered near the very end, etc.).
If it is finished well (mine was good but I've heard it can vary) it leaves relatively little signs of swedging.
It comes with three collets that fit almost all keys.

Pliers can reach the middle, but you usually swedge the ends first (or only) anyway. They can reach the end, right behind where an arm might be soldered. They usually leave more visible signs of it, but that's just the way swedging is.

Pliers come in many types, hole diameters and jaw thickneses. You need the size that would fit the keys (diameter). The large multi-hole pliers are great to allow more force (swedging a lot can be pretty painful) but are more limited in reaching everywhere. Some situations require small pliers to get into tight areas, or thin jaws to more easily lengthen a particularly loose key.

I'd start with the Ferree's collet swedger and add other tools as you need them, unless you can already see that it wouldn't work for the keys that you want to sedge right now.

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