 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: DougR
Date: 2005-12-01 03:26
my annual reminder--when winter comes, the humidity goes down, clarinet wood shrinks, and joint rings get loose. If you shove a barrel with loose joint rings onto an upper joint, or shove an upper joint into a lower joint with a loose ring, the barrel and/or upper joint WILL crack.
I know from experience.
Personally, I'd rather have a competent repair person tighten the loose rings, rather than shim them myself with paper, floss, old music manuscript, or some of the other suggestions I've seen on an adjacent recent thread.
And, if you have a bass with a set-screw on the lower joint socket, make sure the screw is tight--CHECK IT FREQUENTLY! (my failing to do that is what put the crack in my Selmer bass's lower joint.)
A public service message, brought to you by "too soon old, too late schmardt."
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2005-12-01 13:22
YES, TKS Doug, As the song says, "Its that time of the Year". Our indoor humidity levels have dropped to 30-35 % on most of my hygrometers, so its time to renew the "watering" bottles [wet the sponges], and check the bell ring tightness on my best Leblanc Bb, the most "loose' usually. My Selmer bass and alto are now "in-play", so have frequent inspection. I find "nose-dryness" and "static-electric" shocks to be more warnings. Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: Brenda
Date: 2005-12-01 14:23
A question out of curiosity: Why would you tighten the rings as opposed to increasing the humidity? Wouldn't you have to loosen them again in the spring?
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Author: wjk
Date: 2005-12-01 14:50
I personally used an in-case humidifier with great results after a week or so. I'd be afraid (just my opinion) that if the rings are shimmed, when the humidity goes up with the change in weather, the wood will expand against the shims and be at risk of cracking. I've avoided the use of shims or having the rings "crimped" by properly maintaining case humidity.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2005-12-01 15:20
A good point, Brenda, my "ring tightening" is by humidification, not mechanical clamping, and I presumed [IMHO] that was Doug's meaning as well. I wouldn't ask for "ring shrinking" now, only in warmer weather as required. I just now checked my Leb Bb and its bottom bell [large] ring is tight, so I just re-moistened the sponge in its pill bottle humidifier, and am looking at my other good woods.
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: BobD
Date: 2005-12-01 15:26
Thanks Don. Plus, as another poster had mentioned "if you paper shim and the wood expands the ring area will be under compression and won't crack" or words to that effect. This time of year I put infrequently played wood horns in zip lock bags with those great 35mm canister humidifiers.
Bob Draznik
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2005-12-01 16:49
One way of making sure the socket rings are nice and snug is have them replated - a minimum of 25 microns ought to do it.
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-12-02 02:36
Absolutely correct any humidity problem before even thinking of tightening joint rings any other way.
Loose joint rings are a sign of a too dry clarinet.
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Author: BobD
Date: 2005-12-02 15:12
Right on,David. Also, imho, correct the humidity before oiling the bore.
Bob Draznik
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