 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Rob
Date: 2001-10-07 22:11
I was looking on eBay and saw a Buffet Elite model up for auction. Not being in the market for such a beast I looked out of curiosity only. I noticed that it included as an accessory wooden tenon caps, like I have seen on oboes. Strange as it may seem, I have an old (1929) Buffet 1-piece FB which has wooden tenon caps. Actually it now has only the top one, because I lost the other one. I have been looking for a replacement for the bottom one ever since and have not been able to find a source for such an item. Does anyone have any idea where I can get these? It now appears they are being manufactured so I would think they are also being sold. In the past when I have inquired with dealers I have received only strange stares and the impression they had no idea what I was talking about. For anyone reading this note who wants to see what I mean, look at http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1472287858 . They are certainly not essential to anything but satisfying my anal-retentive nature (keeping the inside of the case clean, I guess). If anyone knows of a source for these, I'd like to hear about it.
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Author: ron b
Date: 2001-10-07 22:43
Rob -
Ask around, find someone who likes woodworking and has a lathe. Tenon caps like the ones in the pic look like a pretty easy straightforward turning job. You're not looking at critical tolerances here. Any nice piece of hardwood will do.
- ron b -
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Author: willie
Date: 2001-10-08 05:08
Actually I see a marketing item here. Why can't one of our sponcers make a few of these caps in black thermal plastic so we can keep the "goo" out of our cases?
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Author: Terry Horlick
Date: 2001-10-08 10:51
I thought it was good to give the cork a rest. Would these be turned looser than the end mortise of the barrel, lower joint and bell?
I do wood turning and disagree that it is easy. That piece is small and the walls thin. You would have to find a turner who has a 3 or 4 jaw chuck or who is willing to turn an end cap holding fixture before turning the cap.
The market might accept a plastic version for 1/10 the price of wood, my oboe has plastic caps.
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2001-10-08 12:59
Rob -
I think all oboes come with tenon caps, and most flutes come with them, too. I've never thought they had much usefulness, unless you intend to drop the joints on the floor.
The advice most oboe teachers give is to take them off and put them in a drawer for when you sell the instrument. After all, you carefully dry out the sockets to keep water from soaking into the end grain of the wood. Tenon caps would do just the opposite, holding any moisture against the wood.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Peter
Date: 2001-10-08 15:03
Say mate, isn't an oboe an instrument what rides the trains?
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Author: ron b
Date: 2001-10-08 17:07
I had in mind turning hardwood caps on a metal lathe to a loose fit. I'm sure a plastic something-or-other might work well too. However, the drawbacks noted above seem more drawback than advantage.
- ron b -
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Author: Laur
Date: 2001-10-09 02:36
What is the point of them ?
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Author: Rob
Date: 2001-10-09 03:27
Thanks to all who responded and brought up what seemed to be pertinent concerns:
Plastic would certainly be an acceptable material. I wanted to replace the cap that I lost primarily because I spent a great deal of time and effort building and lining the case for this clarinet and I have little interest in doing so again just because of the disgusting grime that builds up from the accumulations of dirt and lubricant. Cases for 1-piece FB clarinets are not exactly a common commodity and I would like to make the one I have last as long as possible. If I can accomplish that at comparitively less expense than case replacement, then it's worth it. Call me cheap.
I did consult someone who does wood turning (one of my brothers) who advised that creation of this item is more difficult than it appears, though he says he may attempt it, simply because he enjoys such challenges.
The tenon caps do not fit tightly as a tenon socket does so there is no undue pressure on the cork.
It is unlikely that there would be additional absorption of water into the the ends of the tenon because of the looseness of the fit, and in my case anyway, because the clarinet in question has metal tenon end rings. Having caused no damage in the last 72 years this clarinet has been on earth, I think it unlikely such damage would begin now. I also find it unlikely that B&H would deliver a premium quality instrument with an accessory that was likely to cause damage to their instruments - remember I saw these on a Buffet Elite - that would be inviting claims on their warranty.
Thanks again everyone for your comments and suggestions. I will continue my search.
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2001-10-09 14:36
If it is difficult on a wood lathe, it is very easy to make such items from timber/polymer/metal on a metal lathe. Black ABS or Acetyl (Engineering plastic) would be easy and of suitable appeaqrance.
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Author: mary
Date: 2001-10-10 03:46
Contact Luis Rossi- he's got a website. His clarinets come with endcaps, and he's a wonderful person to deal with. I imagine with a few simple measurements he could help you out.
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