 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: alanporter
Date: 2023-10-06 21:18
Is there a way to re-expand tenon corks when they start to wear thin ? Is there a type of grease that can be applied and then heated ?
tiaroa@shaw.ca
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2023-10-06 21:53
That’s a great question and I have a situation where that sort of fix would be great to have. As it stands, my best guess is that there is no rejuvenating compressed cork. The solution is to re-cork.
……….Paul Aviles
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Author: jdbassplayer
Date: 2023-10-06 22:15
Sort of, if they are just overly compressed (maybe from using an aftermarket barrel or bell) then the steam from a tea kettle can expand the cork. But if the corks are just compressed from age then replacing them is the only effective solution.
-JDbassplayer
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2023-10-07 05:12
Don't bother with any of these 'how to' hacks that involve using heat - they're just a temporary fix.
The ONLY fix for compressed tenon corks are replacement and replaced properly by an experienced repairer who knows exactly what they're doing. Then once they've been replaced, using a quality cork grease like La Tromba will prolong their life which is the only cork grease I recommend, simply down to nearly four decades of experience in using it.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2023-10-07 12:31
A temporary fix can be a positive thing. Steam from a kettle is a good temporary method. Of course it's better to replace the cork if possible.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2023-10-08 00:06
The important thing is to not let things get to such a bad state to begin with. Keep on top of your maintenance routine and don't do anything stupid. Don't be one of these people who bang on about they 'don't have the time to do that' when they have to make time as it's part and parcel of playing a musical instrument - there's no excuse for neglect. If you choose the path of neglect, then give up playing and pass your instrument onto someone else who'll respect it.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: JTJC
Date: 2023-10-08 13:24
I'm surprised at the idea of using stream. Steam is finer than liquid so will penetrate the wood very easily. At the temperature of steam and with the difficulty of applying it precisely, isn't there a danger you'll harm the wood of the tenon?
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Author: moma4faith
Date: 2023-10-08 20:54
If I have a tenon emergency (usually a student), I don't use heat or steam. Instead, I use plumbers tape, dental floss, or a combination of the two to add a little thickness. I'll do this until I can get the instrument repaired properly.
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Author: Julian ibiza
Date: 2023-10-08 21:37
Out of curiosity, I did try using a lighter flame on a wine bottle cork as described in the forum link offered by Dan Shusta. It expanded from 21mm diameter to 22 as measured with calipers, although the surface became somewhat rough and also a bit charred.
Wrapping the cork tightly with several layers of silver foil produced better results with a 1.5mm expansion with no damage or effects to the surface texture of the cork.
I remain dubious however, that such heating methods are worth practicing on tenon corks. One thing is that they expand and another is how long they will stay that way. I would have to run those tests to hold any opinion either way.
Julian Griffiths
Tel. 34 696 798 853
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