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Re: English horn loose bell ring adhesive

Author: Chris P
Date: 2026-04-12 16:32

Cor bell rings start off as a compression fit (either with or without adhesive depending on the maker's preference) with the bell being pressed onto the very slightly undersize bell ring (or the other way round) and then they become loose as the wood moves.

Jagging up or scoring up the inside edge will give them more chance of biting into the wood (combined with either liquid shellac or epoxy) to help secure them, but they will eventually become loose.

I superglue them back on, but would only recommend anyone experienced to do that as it's not something a novice should use just to be on the safe side as superglue is a major clean-up operation when it gets everywhere. At least epoxy allows for a relatively easy clean-up and you don't need to use any form of additional heat with epoxy.

I've seen cor bell rings pinned in place with holes drilled through them and into the wood, then silver pins used to keep them in place. The problem with that is the pins can still move and the protruding ends are sharp and can catch on or scratch things.

I've sometimes pinned cor bell rings on after fitting them, usually with three threaded pins screwed in, but drilled, tapped and pinned them from the inside of the bell mouth, fitting the ends of the pins part way into the bell ring and then hidden the ends of them in the bell mouth under filler. That way they're not on or beyond the outer surface of the bell ring so can't get caught on anything.

Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010

Independent Woodwind Repairer
Single and Double Reed Specialist
Oboes, Clarinets and Saxes

NOT A MEMBER OF N.A.M.I.R.

The opinions I express are my own.

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