 The Oboe BBoard
|
Author: Old Oboe
Date: 2014-02-15 16:28
Hi Everyone, I recently had the trim ring fall off the bell of my English Horn. We've had some really cold weather here in Northern Michigan and for an extended period of time. I keep a humistat in the case and am careful never to leave it in a place colder than my home, but even my home is dry and cool. There appears to be no damage to either the ring or the bell. Should I glue it back on? If so, with what type of glue? I'm playing with a floor peg support that fits around the bell so I want to protect the exposed wood. Any suggestions would be welcome.
Linda
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: oboi
Date: 2014-02-15 23:28
My bell ring is loose quite often, especially if I've left it out on its stand for a while, not in its normal case (which has 3 water pillows!), or haven't played it for a while. It is somewhat loose now, but not falling off, compared to this summer, where it was fairly snug. The time when it purely fell off (during a concert!) was the same time period where I had a sticky C# key, because the wood shrunk and the posts came too close together, and I did some emergency hydration (lots of orange peels and probably stuff I shouldn't do). So if your bell is falling off, that may be a warning you need to keep it more humidified somehow. In the past, I've remedied the bell issue specifically by putting a water pillow inside the bell, and also orange peels (carefully!). I normally don't do the peels because I'm afraid it will rot, but it does wonders. But yeah, 3 water pillows year-round in the case in a 40-60% humidity house and it is doing not too bad. If it looks underhydrated, add an orange peel to the case for a day or two.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: WoodwindOz
Date: 2014-02-16 00:32
I had this happen to a brand new Fox 510 I was using at school. The repairer (who was a WI native, so understanding of the cold/dry climate) insisted that glue was not the way to go, and used layers of what looked like cheesecloth wrapped over the exposed wood, pushed on the bell ring over the top and then trimmed the cheesecloth so it couldn't be seen.
I'm no repairer, but does this sound legit? Easier than gluing, I would think.
Rachel
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Chris P
Date: 2014-02-16 17:42
This is always a problem with cor bells - I used a combination of glue and shims to put mine back on with.
While all steps are made to ensure the bell ring is a very tight fit when first installed, shrinkage will still occur and even the most secure pressure fit will soon fail.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Oboe Craig
Date: 2014-02-16 23:37
Chris,
Other than to protect the wood, what is the function of the ring.
Mine is loose here in CO but has never come off. My perception was it was to protect the wood from dings.... is there some acoustic purpose?
When mine is loose, I put a liberal amount of almond oil or larry Naylor's bore oil around it and things tighten up for a while.
My only real concern has been to avoid buzzing sounds.... what else is really going on?
-Craig
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
