 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: John Gibson
Date: 2002-10-16 16:49
My project to build a nice case for my Buffet R-13 has begun. I purchased a beautiful leather attache (18x13x4 inches) and have fit the inside with a good quality foam. Made the cuts necessary to "house" the clarinet. plus MPCs, and a reed case, etc.
Have not lined the foam yet. Considering velvet, maybe chamois, but am wondering if I have to line it at all. Can I just rest the clarinet on the foam? Will it hurt the wood, the plating, etc.?
Thanks for any input.....
John
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Author: Vytas
Date: 2002-10-16 17:11
John,
Sounds like you're getting a bid lazy with all this project. IMO the foam looks ugly not lined.
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Author: ron b
Date: 2002-10-16 17:46
You've gone this far, already put into it a lot of hours and effort (and money)... line it. Look around you, John - do you see unupholstered furniture, unlined automobile or mass transit seats? Ordinarily, you don't. Unlined foam not only looks tacky but it'll get messy very soon if you don't somehow contain it. Your instrument won't like it, or you, either.
Are you like so many of us who just enjoy starting projects then never finish them? If so, look at it this way -- the worst is behind you, it's well over half way to completion. I mean, looking at unfinished projects this way works for me when I get in situations like yours. Oh, yes - none of us are any 'better' than you, John; we've just been there more often
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Author: John Gibson
Date: 2002-10-16 19:06
Okay...
You guys are right....I'm embarrassed.....I'll finish her up....
what do you recommend....velvet or chamois?
John
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Author: mark m
Date: 2002-10-16 19:38
If you leave it bare foam, the foam can start coming apart and little pieces can end up, "who knows where"? These little pieces could eventually cause problems. I had a bass clarinet case that decided to shed a couple of tacks that hold the inside structure together. I got all the way into a performance and had several surprises. That evening, afterwards, I started looking around, and a tack had lodged itself in one of the keyworks. What really tipped me off was that there was another one in the trough where the tube lays.
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Author: Anji
Date: 2002-10-16 22:35
(I can hear the catcalls from the Peanut gallery already...)
Hiya JG,
Trot over to your nearest Walmart and peruse the fabric section... they have lots of polyester based fabrics with a soft raised nap.
These may be applied safely to styrofoam with 3M Super 77 spray adhesive and tucked neatly into the case.
Upholstery shops have better selections, but larger min sizes.
I tack down the styro after a loose fit is tested with each body section... then the lining is placed in (dry) until it fits well.
When you finally use the spray adhesive of your choice, mask off any area not intended for overspray with newspaper (countertops) or the cleanup can be a chore.
This stuff stinks, due to solvents.
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Author: John Gibson
Date: 2002-10-16 22:45
ANDREW (anji)
Does the spray adhesive (with solvents) have any adverse effect on the clarinet? Wood? Keys? Also I'm not using styrofoam....rather
a soft foam material. Thanks for your input....
John
PS....still no thoughts on chamois?
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Author: diz
Date: 2002-10-16 23:51
what do we recommend??
I suggest leopard skin-print fabric - would look very classy
(firmly places tongue in cheek)
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Author: ron b
Date: 2002-10-17 02:17
I think you'll find that chamois will tend to wear against the instrument more than soft fabric, especially if it gets wet then dries it becomes stiff as cardboard. I'd stick to fabric, velvet, or polyesters like Anji suggests. If the adhesive sets up well and is allowed to air out thoroughly for a day or so I don't think there will be a problem.
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Author: John Gibson
Date: 2002-10-17 02:52
As always, you folks come through with great advice. Thanks.....
Diz....your posts always crack me up...perhaps you use too much spray adhesive.....
Ron B....you always have great input....BUT just how will the chamois get wet and cardboardy in the case?
Thanks all....for the advice....I'll finish the case..just wish it could hold my SILVER KING too. That's really what I was after....
but the attache I bought is perfect for the Buffet...
I'm off to Iraq to entertain the troops........
John
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Author: Jim E.
Date: 2002-10-17 05:02
Be sure the adhesive you use will not disolve the foam. Try some on a scrap before you spray away. Do air out the case well, I wouldn't be surprised if some of those solvents couldn't soften contact cement on the corks etc.
I'm not sure I've ever seen fabric glued to soft upholstery foam (I'd have likely used rigid closed cell styrofoam like the blue Dow) and will be interested to hear how it works.
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Author: beejay
Date: 2002-10-17 15:51
In your case, I would employ the white glue used by book-binders and upholsterers. Or plain white wood glue. I think solvent-laden spray glue could have a bad effecton silver-plated keys.
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Author: Bob
Date: 2002-10-18 15:01
You asked for comments re chamois. Although I myself had suggested the consideration of chamois previously I think the comment about it stiffening if wetted has merit(car washing experience). Moisture could come from key pads or the bore if not adequately swabbed and then there is always the possibility of accidental spillage(water bottle e.g.).
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Author: Terry Horlick
Date: 2002-10-18 17:04
I,ve done something similar with a case to carry my R13 and A clarinet. I made sure to cut the foam a little large. Then I got a piece of velour larger than I thought I needed. Then I pushed it into all the recesses which accept insrument parts and supplies. Then I tucked it all around the edges of the foam and down under the foam.
It really stays in place and looks nice. The velour looks like velvet and I allow it to have rather evenly spaced pleats so that everything fits.
The advantages of this...
<OL><LI>When I discoverd there wasn't enough room for my reeds etc. I just pulled the velour up and cut the hole in the foam larger then re-tucked it.
<LI>If you don't like the arrangement of the joints you can easily re-do it in minutes.
<li>There is no glue to worry about solvent fumes damaging anything.
<LI>There are no fumes to smell bad.
<li>If you are compulsive it is possible to pull the lining and launder it.
<li>If you opt for the leopard skin pattern you can easily pull it up and change it to something which goes better with your tongue stud!</ol>
I used an aluminum tool box style case which I feel safe traveling with. It doesn't scream out "steal me I contain a easily pawnable clarinet".
IMHO, Terry
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