 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: petrosv
Date: 2024-02-18 00:53
Have an older Couesnon Albert there's short crack in the bell at the top where it fits to the bottom joint and when I put the bell on I can see the crack expand ever so slightly but it's clearly opening a tiny bit. So the question is should I super glue it with the bell off (and the crack collapsed) or super glue with the bell on (and the crack widened)?
I'd say it's at least 80+ years old ? Not serial # just Couesnon Bb LP on the lower joint and Bell
Thanks for any help
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Julian ibiza
Date: 2024-02-18 17:02
Hi Petrosv,
It sounds like the bell's tenon ring is not fitting tightly enough, which would explain why you got the crack in the first place.
I'm not a pro tech,but I would go about the repair by first removing the tenon ring, then inserting the tenon to open the crack NO MORE than it was with the ring in place to better get the super glue in there. Then remove the tenon and lash the crack as tightly as possible. Then you need to get the ring on tighter. That the ring is on tight is the critical part of a lasting repair. I like to use Teflon tape. If you get it on nice and tight and with the right number of turns, then the ring should press on firmly and smoothly without any dragging of the tape which will obviously prevent the ring sliding home properly. The excess tape overlapping the end of the tenon is best trimmed off after the ring is fitted, as leaving it helps to prevent bunching of the tape while fitting the ring. The inside of the ring should be clean and it's important to push the ring on squarely, which I tend to do by placing the ring on a flat surface and pressing the piece vertically onto it . If the tape bunches or you need more of it, it's easy to repeat the whole process.
There are those on the forum who no doubt know better than I about these things, but I thought you should have a reply.
Julian Griffiths
Tel. 34 696 798 853
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: m1964
Date: 2024-02-18 22:26
Also, I'd make sure to clean the crack area with alcohol otherwise the glue may not adhere well.
A picture would help to give a better advice.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Chris P
Date: 2024-02-19 04:43
You want to get the glue into the crack, so use something to carefully and gently widen the bell socket and then wick superglue into the crack, then let it close by releasing whatever you're wedging the socket with.
You will need to thoroughly degrease the crack (with either alcohol or solvent) as cork grease would've got into it when it was fitted to the lower joint tenon and the crack opened up. You're best doing all this with the socket ring removed, then as the socket ring is loose which has caused the wood to crack (due to the wood shrinking), you'll need to refit the socket ring so it's a good fit to fully support the socket.
You can shim the socket ring recess with paper, but only use enough so the socket isn't being made narrower under the socket ring. Any gaps can be filled in either with liquid shellac or by wicking superglue into them to fully support the socket so there aren't any voids left where cracks can occur.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: petrosv
Date: 2024-02-19 22:37
Thanks everyone I see some good info here and I'll try my best!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
