 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: johnwesley
Date: 2021-06-07 05:51
Is chapstick okay to use as cork grease? I have 4 unused sticks and trying to save money.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Matt74
Date: 2021-06-07 06:44
Attachment: E1831095-FC4D-48A6-9436-44DCEB51E68E.jpeg (132k)
It’s probably fine. They may be the same stuff. It’s probably best not to use pigmented stuff on wood or white plastic.
The only problem with cheap cork grease is that it can dissolve the cork glue. It’s not a huge problem though, because it takes a long time to happen, and it’s easy to fix. Chapstick may even be better, who knows?
Attached is the ingredients in regular Chapstick. I’ve never seen the ingredients to cheap cork grease.
Doctor’s Products (and some other brands) make nice “natural” cork grease that is not supposed to damage the corks or glue. It’s very affordable and I like it. It’s only a few dollars, about the price of a reed, and lasts a lot longer.
- Matthew Simington
Post Edited (2021-06-07 06:48)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: alanporter
Date: 2021-06-07 08:40
I have used it for many years on several clarinets with no problem whatever. The only people who may disagree are those who sell their own brands.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: clarnibass
Date: 2021-06-07 10:41
>> The only people who may disagree are those who sell their own brands. <<
No.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Jarmo Hyvakko
Date: 2021-06-07 11:33
The only problem i have found using chapstick as cork grease is that it tends to be too slicky. What happened to me was, that when i tuned the instrument from the barrel, it slided little by little back to closed. And a good cork grease costs some 5 €/$ and lasts for a long time. I would be more worried putting that same chapstick to my lips...
Jarmo Hyvakko, Principal Clarinet, Tampere Philharmonic, Finland
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: tucker ★2017
Date: 2021-06-07 16:18
I asked both the manufacturer of my horn (they don't sell cork grease) and the technician I have used for years. They both said NO. (Probably okay to use in an "emergency").
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Steven Ocone
Date: 2021-06-07 16:41
There are different chapstick formulations. Some might loosen the cork.
Steve Ocone
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Chris P
Date: 2021-06-07 18:32
There is such a thing as 'cork grease' which is specially formulated for use on tenon corks.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: alanporter
Date: 2021-06-08 03:42
Maybe why I have got away with safely using chapstick all these years, is that I do not apply it directly to the cork. I apply it to my fingertip which I then rub around the inside of the tenon socket.
tiaroa@shaw.ca
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: BethGraham
Date: 2021-06-08 04:11
I've been using Burt's Bees for the past few years on my corks with no ill effects, and my tech has said that it's fine for me to use. It is, in fact, way less slick than the cork greases I've used.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Max S-D
Date: 2021-06-08 22:05
I bought a little container of cork grease from Brad Behn a couple of years ago for $6 when I bought some reeds. It's quite nice. At the rate I'm using it, I'll still be using it for at least twice that time going forward. I'll probably lose it before then.
You can try to save money here, but I don't think there's much money to be saved. Might as well use a cork grease that is specifically designed to work well with cork.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
