 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: sarah.mah
Date: 2009-10-22 11:54
Hello! I was about to put back my clarinet after a couple hours of practice, and I noticed that my bell is stuck. Could it be the humid weather that affected my clarinet? I remembered greasing my cork ..
I read several threads on this forum. Is it ok to leave my clarinet overnight, and the bell can be easily removed by the next day?
Sarah
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Author: knotty
Date: 2009-10-22 12:09
Perhaps grab the clarinet with a piece of inner tube for more traction? ... just a thought.
I've been using Selmer's Tuning Slide & Cork Grease on tight joints, it's a lot more slippery than cork grease.
knotty
~ Musical Progress: None ~
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2009-10-22 12:13
It's the wood that's binding and nothing to do with grease (or lack of), so try to remove the bell by rocking it slightly in all directions while twisting - it will start to come apart slowly and once it gets past the oint where it's binding, it'll come away easily.
You may need a tiny amount of wood shaved off the tenon ring (or rings depending if both are binding) so it doesn't bind again, and any woodwind specialist should be able to do this, or you can have it done under warranty from where you bought it from if they have a repairs department.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: kdolan01
Date: 2009-10-22 16:39
maybe its time for a new case, buffet makes a lovely pouchette case...you dont take the bell off ever
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2009-10-22 17:16
Brilliant idea!
If only we had cases that kept all the joints together so we never need to take our clarinets apart ever again!
Only there are such cases on eBay, so our wishes have been granted.
(I'm not all that clued up on this whole 'netiquette' thingy, so please let me know the emoticon for sarcasm)
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
Post Edited (2009-10-22 17:18)
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2009-10-22 19:15
a note for Knotty
the Selmer tuning slide and cork grease contains petroleum distilates...
its absolutely great for metal tuning slides, I recomend it to all my brass customers, but it will eventually cause tenon corks to harden and perish.. assuming it doesn't get to the adhesive first....
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Author: sarah.mah
Date: 2009-10-23 17:31
Well my bell is still stuck ..
My clarinet tech had recommended me to leave the clarinet under AC for 24hrs and the bell will come off due to humidity. Would that work?
I remembered putting cork grease .. so it must be humidity ..
Sarah
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2009-10-23 17:36
Your teacher is a total moron to even suggest that!
Never subject your clarinet to extreme and sudden temperature or humidity changes such as radiators or air con!
Just realised I misread that and said 'teacher' instead of 'tech' - and that kind of advice coming from a tech is far worse than if it came from a teacher! Apologies to your teacher, but I'll say find another tech if that's what their advice is.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
Post Edited (2009-10-23 18:39)
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2009-10-23 18:03
Chris P is not just being mean...that advice is completely bone-headed.
Is your teacher going to pay for the crack repair that doing such a thing would cause?
Go back to Chris's first post, and if need be get someone a little stronger to rock the bell off the lower joint.
James
Gnothi Seauton
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Author: Brianj
Date: 2009-10-23 18:15
I disagree. We have this problem with the humidity here at Ft. Leonard Wood. Our bells and barrells get stuck all the time. Put your horn in the fridge for about 20 minutes and there is enough shrikage in the cork to get them to come off. Of course, the key is to wait and play only whne the horn is back to room temperature.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2009-10-23 18:34
Or you can have the joints fitted so they don't stick which is much easier and far less risky.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: susieray
Date: 2009-10-23 19:11
I have had to do this many times with stuck bells and barrels,
and have found that rocking back and forth while gently pulling
works much better than rocking back and forth while twisting.
Have had to work at it longer with some than with others, but it has always worked.
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2009-10-24 00:19
I have done the rocking, too, but it got annoying enough--especially in summer-- that I finally had the tenon adjusted by a competent repairman.
Jeff
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Author: ShazamaPajama
Date: 2009-10-24 01:44
take it to a shop?
i mean if its seriously stuck, taking itto a shop would be your best bet so you dont damage your instrument.
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2009-10-24 02:44
What I've done in the past, when a student has had this problem, is to hold both joints tightly, but not on the keys of course, and instead of just trying to rock them or turn the bell give them short but quick "bursts" instead of a steady pressure so you can snap it apart, works for me more often then it doesn't. If that fails then follow Brainj suggestion and put it in the frig for 20-30 minutes. Make sure you haven't played the clarinet so it's only room temperature. Believe it or not, the cold will not hurt the instrument, it's only when it goes from one extreme to another quickly. There have been several times when our orchestra has been on tour in the winter and our shipped instruments, I always ship my bass clarinet and my set once in a while. Now and then the instruments arrive freezing cold because the heated vans didn't work properly or while unloading the trucks they sat outside too long. I would just let the instruments sit in the opened case for half and hour before playing them. Never had a problem. Try it for 15 minutes and another 15 if necessary. Then go to a tech and get the joint corrected or do it yourself. It's usually not the cork that's the problem but the wood at the back of the cork.
Having a case that you never have to take the bell off is not such a good idea. You should always loosen it anyway and then put it back on because some day you might have to keep the bell extended a bit to bring some of the bell tones in tune. Never leave any joint together for extended periods of time. ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2009-10-24 12:51
Rock it one way and place a sliver of metal, eg a razor blade, or even paper, in the tiny opening.
Then rock it the opposite way, and place in the new gap something a little thicker.
Keep alternating with thicker packing until it is freed.
It's never failed for me.
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Author: BartHx
Date: 2009-10-24 17:05
I do not agree with the idea of keeping a joint assembled over a long period of time. I restored an old horn that had been stored that way. The cork and cork grease had turned into a very effective glue. I was able to rock a large enough space open to insert a 22ga syringe needle and flooded the joint with bore oil. After allowing time for it to soak through the cork, I was then able to rock the joint until the cork disintegrated. I would suggest you have a tech refit and recork the joint, throw away your cork grease, and switch to Doctor Syntec (The Doctor's Products).
Post Edited (2009-10-24 17:06)
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Author: Malcolm Martland
Date: 2009-10-26 11:28
I agree with Ed. A short sharp twist rather than continual pressure is more effective, and make sure it is in the same direction as you assembled the joint. A kitchen jar lid remover, the kind with a thick rubber band, has worked for me in the past when barrels have got stuck I'm sure it would work for the bell too. I have the same problem just now with a newish Noblet 45 but between the top and bottom joint so the linkage mechanism is a danger too. However, it is improving with use.
Happy playing!
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