Author: Micke Isotalo ★2017
Date: 2024-07-26 12:12
Karl, if your rubber rings are indeed made of rubber (or contains rubber), cork grease should not be applied - nor directly or inside the barrel. This is since the grease causes swelling of the rings (the mouthpiece maker Maxton even has this advice on their Website, concerning their older rubber rings: "Please replace the rings as soon as they come into contact with grease.")
If your rings are made of plastic, cork grease can be applied - but if that's needed for every assembly, I would recommend trying at least 0.1mm smaller rings. Part of the convenience with rings instead of cork, at least to me, is that no grease is ever needed - despite a fully airtight fit, while assembly and disassembly is still smooth and easy.
How often grease on cork joints is needed, depends on how precise the fit is to begin with (and on wooden clarinets also with a variance due to ambient humidity, where higher humidity means a tighter fit - as in the summer compared to the winter). Since the last general overhaul of my instruments (with all corks replaced), I need to apply cork grease at every assembly and to every joint (though more to some than others) - which wasn't necessary after the previous overhaul, with a bit less precise fit. It's also common with the cork becoming a bit depressed and less springy over time, requiring less lubrication.
My advice would be to try to get the "feel" when grease is needed, when not. If the joint is jerking and squeaking during assembly, grease is definitely needed. On the other hand, if assembly is smooth and only moderate force is needed, grease isn't needed - or is needed only occasionally. Definitely stay away from grease if assembly requires only very little force.
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