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RE: string for cork tenons

Author: ron b
Date: 2002-06-18 19:30

The reason some woodwind instrument tenons (still) have grooves in them today is that it's a throwback to the days when string was in common use. We're slow to change, catch up with new technology. The grooves serve no good purpose for anything but string wound tenons. Cork adhesive gives better overall contact without the grooves. See if you can figure that one out :] Whether cork, when applied correctly, is more maintenance and trouble free than thread is still open to discussion but its widespread usage today speaks loudly in its favor.
For tenon binding, I like heavy thread because you can determine better if and where you need to build up the wrapping to make a good seal. It's fine when wound evenly but I find I have a little more wiggle room for adjustment with thread than with heavier string. Some people prefer floss. However, with any kind of binding I like to add a little cork grease as I wind - it helps keep the binding in place. The object is to make a fairly air tight seal; anything that will do that and hold up during reasonable usage is fine. The greatest advantage for string or thread is that it's generally more available to the average citizen than tenon cork sheets and easier for most do-it-yourselfers to apply.
The greatest plus for string is: it's great for Emergencies