 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2006-01-10 12:19
I thought about putting the badly stained keys of my next project into an ultrasonic cleaner made for cleaning jewellery and the like.
Will the keys like that (I am not worried about the pads as they're to be replaced anyway) or may I damage the plating or even the soldering points?
--
Ben
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Author: BobD
Date: 2006-01-10 15:03
That will depend on what liquid you use.
Bob Draznik
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2006-01-10 15:45
For starters, make sure all the flat springs and their associated screws have been removed from the applicable keys; and that every bit of cork and glue has been removed from all the keys. Other than that, I'd wait for reponses from our chemical expert Dr. Omar, and tech experts John Butler etc. as for the details and general advisability of such an effort.
Personally I've always gotten good results with thorough de-tarnishing and polishing using readily-available Brasso and a soft cotton cloth (old T-shirts or hand towels work well), though it takes some time and effort to do a proper job.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2006-01-10 15:45
What liquid should I use?
And what is best for heavy tarnishing?
And where can I get some from (in the UK)?
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2006-01-10 16:15
Small ultrasonic cleaners are available for around $30 (with shipping costs of $20) on That Unmentionable Auction Site, but the interior is too small for the longer clarinet keys. Larger ones are around $50.
Oboists and bassoonists rave about them for cleaning reeds. I don't know of any clarinetists who use them, though.
For reeds, oboists use distilled water as the liquid. For key cleaning, I'd ask Omar and the other repair technicians.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2006-01-10 16:22
I have boiled up sets of keys in a frying pan using only water, washing-up liquid and rolled up bits of aluminium foil and this gets all the crud out from hard to reach areas. But keep changing the foil every now and then when it turns dark grey. It doesn't clean off the really badly tarnished silver though.
I bought my ultrasonic cleaner off that particular site (from Holland) and it's a 1.4 litre capacity. The only keys that won't go in are oboe outer feathers (though they can be done by immersing one end at a time), but all Bb/A clarinet keys go in.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
Post Edited (2006-01-10 16:26)
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Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2006-01-10 16:35
Most ultrasonic cleaning solutions use non-foaming surfactants (soap) and will clean crud and debris but have little effect on tarnish. Commercial degreasing is often accomplished with alkaline soap solutions or organic solvents (beware of explosion hazard here). I do not know of a tarnish removing solution - other than using a liquid silver cleaner for the solution in the ultrasonic bath but nothing for nickel that I know of. Of course the method of cleaning is just to get whatever solution you pick for the bath pushed around more vigorously using ultrasonic energy. It is very little abrasive effect and therefore is used extensively for cleaning areas not easily cleaned on jewelry items. The ultrasonic energy of common devices should not pose a problem of cracking solder joints because the energy is just not strong enough. Some massive ultrasonic transducer devices however are now used to break rock and soil strata for mining.
L. Omar Henderson
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Author: BobD
Date: 2006-01-10 21:01
As is often the case, the original question was not the right one. Tictac made an assumption that ultrasonic cleaning was a good way to clean the keys and the answer is "probably not". Although a number of liquids may safely be used in ultrasonic cleaners they won't have a positive affect on removing tarnish....but might help remove old pad cement. Some mild acidic cleaners might be used with some good effect....but Dave's "old fashioned" way would probably be the better way. The only remaining problem is how to get the T-shirts clean.
Bob Draznik
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2006-01-11 19:34
Update: Fate wanted it that a 70W ultrasonic cleaner was on sale today (at about half the price they're offered on That Auction Site).
Key Under Test came out undamaged (the pad and cork still there), clean but not untarnished. Oh well.
But the chandelier in the hall now looks like new now, so at least my wife had no reason to give me that look.
--
Ben
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Author: jbutler ★2017
Date: 2006-01-11 23:54
I use my 18 gal. utlrasonic cleaner for cleaning polishing compound off keys after buffing. I use Oakite BCR as a cleaning solvent and only keep the keys in for 5 minutes with a solution temperature of 120f degrees. I just have to rinse with clear water, dry, and the keys are ready to cork and pad.
Ultrasonic cleaning will not remove tarnish from keys. Raw German silver keys from older instruments do not do well in the ultrasonic cleaner. They tend to come out with hazy "spots" and I learned that it is just best to polish and degrease them with hot water and detergent.
Ultrasonic cleaning works well for getting the "crud" out of necks and bodies without the use of harsh chemicals.
jbutler
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2006-01-12 10:15
What about ultrasonic cleaning silver plated keys?
Is there a solution specifically designed for this, or should I just use silver dip in the tank?
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Author: jbutler ★2017
Date: 2006-01-13 01:57
Ultra-sonic cleaning does not polish, it will remove grease/film, but not tarnish. Water and a surficant (detergent) of any kind will work. An ultrasonic unit should come with a set of instructions and recommendations, but any type of diswashing liquid in small amounts should work. The Oakite BCR solution I use is only 10% Oakite/90 % water.
jbutler
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