 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Eb
Date: 2001-08-05 01:32
I was just wondering if clear fingernail polish would work on keys to not make them get ugly, and so on, so quickly? I would like to try it on my nickel-plated clarinet, but am not sure if I SHOULD or NOT! I don't want it to eat the clarinet!!
~Eb~
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Author: KevinS
Date: 2001-08-05 04:02
The clear polish will not harm the keys of the clarinet. Be aware, however, that the nail polish will wear, chip, flake and most will turn NASTY shades of yellow over time.
It's not really worth the trouble, IMHO. In previous posts, some people have suggested that replating the keys on the clarinet sometimes lasts longer than the original plating. This is great and looks awesome if you can afford the cost of replating the keys AND having the horn repadded. All the pads have to come off before the plating company can do their job.
Here's a couple of links for people to check out:
http://www.caswellplating.com/kits.html
These guys provide plating kits that might be used to "touch up" worn spots for those mechanically inclined individuals.
This is just a cool looking result of a replating job done by Fowler Music:
http://www.fowlermusic.com/whati.htm
Good Luck!
Kevin
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Author: jbutler
Date: 2001-08-05 12:18
The finger nail polish won't harm your clarinet keys. Most polishes are acrylic lacquer. Try it and see. You can always take it off with polish remover if you don't like the appearance.
John
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Author: Beth R.
Date: 2001-08-05 15:25
But will polish remover (acetone) hurt silver plating? I know it's fine on nickel plating.
Beth R.
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Author: mw
Date: 2001-08-05 15:38
I believe that our problem today is NOT the metal being used. Silver is a metal. My father, who is a former jeweller by trade, tells me that (basically) "silver is silver".
One problem no doubt can be attributed to the plating process used. Sometimes silver plate "takes" & sometimes it doesn't. (this happened to Steve Fowler when he was replating my Conn 424B, where I went from (worn) nickelplate to silverplate --- he had to redo his plating job). The other problem is a thin plating application. I think that _IS_ the problem on (both) nickelplated & silver plated keywork.
I don't have any idea what a chemical like clear nail polish would do to the plating on a clarinet. I think that the polish would attract MORE DIRT and it would be problematic in the future as it broke down (I would darn sure hate to try & resell a clarinet that has nail polish remover all over it --- who would buy one unless at fire sale prices? Please step up & be counted).
How would you keep the nail polish from getting on springs, into the post-rod connections, pivot screws, onto bumper materials like cork, leather, teflon ??? --- I say nuts to this --- but that's IMO. this is NOT my idea of a fix. But. like all things DSFDF.
Best,
mw
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Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2001-08-06 02:35
I have done some studies at the suggestion of Richard Hawkins, late of Interlochen and new to Oberlin - (good luck RH), comparing the ph (hydrogen ion concentration - a measure of acidity and alkalinity) of perspiration on the fingers of about 20 students (some of which complained about dulling and etching of their keywork). Some indeed, > 15%, had more acid perspiration on their fingers than other students. Again, to pursue a very scientific experiment would take a larger number and multiple samplings per person because a lot of acid perspriation may be due to diet and dietary changes.
Anyway, I also performed a skin chloride test on these same students (a measure of the amount of salt in perspiration) and in general those that had more acid perspiration had higher salt content - a double whammy for plating.
The answer - well I'm working on that in terms of a wipe-it kind of product that is non-abrasive and non-reactive with the plating that will remove salt and neutralize the acid and perhaps a blocking cream for the fingers (but we are getting into cosmetics and skin sensitivity which is a difficult area). Not the total answer but should help. Perhaps washing hands prior to playing would also help but this is hard on the marching field or in class. One main precautionary measure is to keep all sulphur containing stuff out of the case. The combination is a triple whamming for plating in combination with acid and salt.
The Doctor
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Author: David Pegel
Date: 2001-08-06 03:39
Someone should take old lamp-caliber clarinets and experiment with "clarinet alchemy" where they try different concoctions that may help rejuvenate the instrument and/or create a protective barrier around the metal and woodwork.
(Hey, it's a thought.)
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Author: willie
Date: 2001-08-06 05:13
Plating oddball shaped objects (like clarinet keys) can be a challenge. When you connect the electodes to the piece being plated, it creates a magnetic field to attract and hopefully bond the new metal. Nooks and crannies on a piece tend to get less plating as the field seems to be confused in these areas. Then theres the laborous task of buffing. This is where the big expense is as it is just labor, lots of it in some cases. I've done it and was very proud of my work, but it is just that, a lot of WORK and dusty too.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2001-08-06 05:37
willie wrote:
> When you connect the electodes to the piece
> being plated, it creates a magnetic field to attract and
> hopefully bond the new metal.
Not magnetic, Willie.
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Author: Bob Arney
Date: 2001-08-06 13:40
Hey! Why quit at "Clear Polish"? Remember the Red, Green, and Yellow larinets? We could do a mix and match. Color the keys with a "complementary" shade and march on into the sunset.
Bob A
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Author: Terry Horlick
Date: 2001-08-06 14:35
Mark,
In defense of Willie, whenever you create an electric current you create a magnetic field. It is an easy mis-step to assume the magnetic field is attracting the metalic ions when you plate. Look at the metals we are plating onto the base key metal, none of them are ferrous (magnetic) metals!
You are 100% correct that it is the electrical current which is attracting and depositing the metallic ions when you plate a chunk of metal.
Terry
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Author: Jim P
Date: 2001-08-07 02:18
Beth wrote:
>But will polish remover (acetone) hurt silver plating?
In the conditions our horns will encounter, metal corrosion is caused by electrolytic reactions. The electrolyte is often acids and salts, as somebody else's post mentioned. Acetone is an organic nonpolar molecule and should be far less corrosive to nickel or silver than perspiration or even pure water.
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Author: Beth R.
Date: 2001-08-07 02:25
Thank you, Jim. You've told me exactly what I wanted to know.
All the best~
Beth R.
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