 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: nahya^^
Date: 2002-09-06 00:40
I left my clarinet deassembled in it's box for about a week. I don't know if it was before but there's this yellowish mark on the right pinky key for G#.
I don't know anything about polishing and I didn't ask my teacher how to polish it today...
If I have to ask my teacher, I'll have to wait a week from now. So can anyone tell me anything useful relating to this topic, please?
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Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2002-09-06 00:57
Get yourself a high quality silver polishing cloth from one of the manufacturers that specialize in silver (you can get them in the silver department of most large department stores or jewelry stores that sell silver items). With silver polishing cloths you pretty much get what you pay for and the cheaper ones can actually leave tiny scratches on the keywork and wear off material because the polishing compound is more variable and contains granules of larger size distribution. The keywork should not need polishing that often if you wipe off the keys and keep one of those tarnish inhibitor strips in the case (for silver) and keep the case sealed when not taking the instrument in or out of the case.
Another good idea is to get one of those new microfiber cloths or a piece of silk and wipe the keys off after playing. Certain individuals have more acidic sweat or exude chemicals from their skin pores, as well as the salts, that promote tarnish or pitting (both silver and nickel). In cases where the individual has a greater potential to tarnish or pit the keys there are special blends of waxes that are not in the least slippery but protect the keys from the player.
The Doctor
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2002-09-06 11:15
It is possible that the colour is a layer of copper plating that is showing through after waring off a far-too-thin layer of silver plating. If the spot gets larger, the more you polish it, then this is your problem. Sadly this is quite common with current quality control and skimping in production standards by manufacturers.
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Author: Brian
Date: 2002-09-06 23:50
Hey Doc,
Are the silver polishing cloths suitable for nickel plated keys? If not is there a nickel-specific cloth available?
Thanks,
Brian
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2002-09-07 10:35
iI've never succeeded in having any effect on nickel tarnish using a good quality silver cloth.
Some polishing pastes claim they are for both. In my experience any abrasive they have that is capable of working on nickel will devastate silver. Nickel and its tarnish are hard; silver is soft. Therefore totally different abrasives are required.
Maybe there is a chemical (non abrasive) that can do both.
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