 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Marco
Date: 2001-08-15 13:39
Recently I took my hard rubber mouthpiece outside in the florida heat/sun, and later cleaned it with vinegar and rinsed in warm water, and it took on a green tint. At first I thought "I hope I didn't screw this thing up," but upon playing on the mouthpiece I noticed no difference in performance. so the point is, I LIKE the irregular green pattern as long as it isn't harmful to the actual important aspect of the mouthpiece (how it plays). so my first question is- can this discoloration be at all harmful to how the mouthpiece performs (would i have to protect the table from the discoloration)? My second question, (given that the answer to the first is "no") is- how can I accelerate the process? I've heard that heat/sunlight/warm water can do it but I was wondering if anyone had any other ways that may show results more quickly or produce a more pronounced (dis)coloration.
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Author: Anji
Date: 2001-08-15 14:40
The discoloration indicates the breakdown of the rubber.
More of this will probably result in something rather brittle.
I think the Vandoren people have some "Swirly-Pattern" mouthpieces that won't disintigrate on stage.
About whatcher doin...StopPIT! Or I'll tell Mom.
You got too much free time on yer hands, aincha suppostabee prackissin?
yoiks
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Author: William
Date: 2001-08-15 14:53
Anji!!!!--Whered ya ler'n ta tawk like ya'DO. Kool Man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Gud KlariNet'n!!!!
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2001-08-15 15:30
You soak it in weak bleach to turn the green black again. Goodness knows how this works but it does.
Don't use warm water. That accellerates greening.
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Author: David Spiegelthal
Date: 2001-08-15 17:17
Ammonia (or products containing ammonia, such as Brasso) will also slowly turn the greenish hard rubber back to black. Unless the 'greening' is allowed to continue for many years, I don't think there's any real danger of the mouthpiece becoming brittle and disintegrating onstage. That could be embarrassing.
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Author: falicia
Date: 2001-08-15 21:44
I went to a concert band camp this summer, and they told us to wash our mouthpieces AND reeds in luke warm water, with dish detergent...... What are ya'lls ideas on this? Any better suggestions on better ways to clean these things, and DISINFECT Them?
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Author: David Spiegelthal
Date: 2001-08-16 14:39
Warm water and hand dishwashing soap (the liquid stuff, not the powder you put into dishwashing machines) are excellent for mouthpieces. I wouldn't use the soap on the reeds, however, as it will soak into the cane and your reeds will taste soapy when you play them. I'd recommend water only for the reeds, possibly with an occasional soaking in hydrogen peroxide (followed by a thorough cool-water rinse).
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Author: mw
Date: 2001-08-16 15:41
Weak bleach ... Strong bleach ...Ammonia .... all have an EFFECT. The issue is TIME to SOAK ... and thorough rinsing/cleansing of the chemical afterward. (considser immersion in a series of clean water containers -- a sort of "filtration system") I do NOT believe that what you are experiencing is a DEEP chemical reaction. Though I cannot see your mouthpiece, I believe (based upon what you told us) that the issue of "greening" is mostly confined to the outer surface of the mouthpiece.
Note: The use of Bleach may very well take off (or remove some) of the shiny finish to your mouthpiece. The Bleach (used properly_ should not effect your mouthpiece acoustically. (consider experimentation with another less useful mouthpiece, first)
Best,
mw
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Author: Dave Beal
Date: 2001-08-16 18:06
Under no conditions should you combine the ammonia and chlorine bleach mentioned here. Doing so will produce chlorine gas, which is poisonous.
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Author: mw
Date: 2001-08-16 19:36
who mentioned _COMBINING_ them? (where did that idea come from???) mw
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Author: Hiroshi
Date: 2001-08-17 00:23
I have two actual experiences. One is my Kasper-cicero(original one). When I bought this as a new one it was already green and it sounded sweet. I thought this is a kind of black magic by Kasper-cicero. (Unfortunately I lost this one.) Another is my old Vandoren 2RV. I did not use this several years. When I picked it up two years ago from a shelf, its color was brown not green. Almost no sound. I threw it away. Since then I consider green is good and brown is bad. Maybe different ingredients, trade secrets of manufactuires, different discolorations.
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Author: 7
Date: 2001-08-17 09:08
Wouldn't something like Listerine mouthwash be a good mouthpiece cleaning agent?
It's made to clean and disinfect and It won't kill you if you don't rinse it.
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Author: mw
Date: 2001-08-17 18:29
Sure, but Listerine won't change the GREEN color of the mouthpiece, which was the subject matter of this Thread. mw
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