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Re: Clarinet Swedging Tools

Author: Steven Ocone
Date: 2020-05-20 17:27

I'm not at work now to check, but I think the collet tool can work on as little as 1/8" / 3mm at the end of the key. I usually only swedge the ends.

I'm more concerned about some keys than others. Swedging helps the pad land in the same place every time. If it doesn't, the impression in the pad doesn't always match the tone hole and leaks occur. On some pads, the spring is always forcing the pad to the side in one direction and key play is less important.

Swedging also decreases key noise. Again, this is of more concern on some keys than others.

One tricky area is the left hand levers – the type that have a pin that fits into a hole on the corresponding key. That hole doesn't move in a straight line and the angle of the pin changes as well. A tight lever can create binding as the hole moves sidewards or at the end of the key movement as the angle of the pin becomes extreme. Additionally, after tightening up the key, you may find that the pin is no longer perfectly centered and is always pushing against one side of the hole. Getting rid of noise on these keys can be a pain.

My advice is to not go for perfection, especially since wood and plastic change with the weather and if the keys are "perfect" one day they may bind on the next. Instead, just swedge the sloppy keys that you are able to work on reducing the play to a "reasonable" level.

Steve Ocone

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