 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Lori
Date: 2002-08-21 13:11
The keys are silver and have always had a little tarnish - I've never polished them with anything. I searched back and saw the threads on the no tarnish strips and micro-fiber cloths but am not sure if that is the solution for this problem. Played in some extreme heat over the summer, could sweaty hands have done damage? Should I just polish them gently or do I need to do something else...
Lori
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2002-08-21 21:38
Try your jewelery store, there are some polishing cloths that actually smooth the surface slightly.
Anti-tarnish strips have limitations (especially when humid), and microfiber cloth is too smooth to polish much of the surface.
When was the last service for your horn?
You could have the largest keys buffed, lightly.
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2002-08-22 09:17
A bit ambiguous....
Do you mean that the surface feels gritty - like tiny blisters all over the surface?
If so, it could be poor quality plating and/or action from a corrosive agent such as your perspiration, especially if it has not been regularly wiped off. If the blistering is in areas where your fingers do not have access I would definitely suspect the quality of the plating. Many instruments, especially older ones, have a real hiding with respect to corrosive agents and have never blistered. I believe many current manufacturers, including some 'top' ones, are severely skimping in quality control of plating.
Or do you mean that there is a gritty feel in the mechanism when you operate a key?
This means that there is some roughness or binding within the pivot, or a key rubbing another part, e.g. a ring key rubbing against the timber of the tone hole. This, too is common in brand new instruments, including top makes.
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Author: Lori
Date: 2002-08-22 15:17
It's an R-13 from the late '60's. The grittiness is most pronounced on the surface of the flat keys operated by the pinkies, not in the action of the keywork. I wouldn't describe it as blistered, but it's definitely not smooth either. It was intensely hot over the summer and I'm worried that I didn't wipe it down enough while playing with a lot of perspiration on my hands. This was the first summer I've played in many years and just don't have any recent experience with this particular situation.
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