 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: chazman
Date: 2006-05-23 09:08
Good Morning
I have a bit an issue with my LeBlanc PF. The bell ring as become slightly loose, mostly due to low humidity. I recall reading some where that either the ring should be hand tightened and then allowed to swell OR completely loose then allowed to swell or I can’t remember which it is. I suspect hand tight though to prevent cracking. I thought I once read it in Robert Willaman’s book, but can’t find it. Now the ring is not drop off rattle lose, but twisty loose then snug and gradualy raise the humidity level. Please help and professional advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you again
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2006-05-23 09:13
My Selmers have tightened up now the general humidity level is around 60-70%, so I wouldn't worry too much about it being loose - it will tighten up.
It always happens in the winter that the bell rings on my clarinets rattle due to the low humidity levels (and central heating).
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Author: chazman
Date: 2006-05-23 09:18
Hi Chris
Early riser too I see?
Should I then just make it hand tight or leave it loose? Then intruduce humidity slowly?
Thank you
Chuck
Post Edited (2006-05-23 09:35)
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2006-05-23 09:37
Early riser? No, not me - It's just gone 10:30am!
Turn it round so it stops rattling, but as soon as you notice it is getting tighter due to the humidity levels rising, loosen it again so the wood can swell to it's original size.
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Author: David Peacham
Date: 2006-05-23 09:44
This happened to my Leblanc Concerto when it was a couple of months old. A dab of bore oil on the bell, and the ring has never moved again.
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If there are so many people on this board unwilling or unable to have a civil and balanced discussion about important issues, then I shan't bother to post here any more.
To the great relief of many of you, no doubt.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2006-05-23 09:48
My Leblanc LL had a slightly loose bell ring when I bought it, but I shrunk it by pressure using a collet to tighten it up and it hasn't moved since.
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Author: chazman
Date: 2006-05-23 11:10
I guess the big question is should I then just make it hand tight or leave it loose? Then intruduce humidity slowly? My concern is having the ring seated properly (either slightly loose or hand tight) because there is a difference when rotated around the bell. then allow the wood to swell with humidity?
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2006-05-23 11:37
Make it hand tight when playing so it doesn't rattle or buzz, but then loosen it off again when you put it back in it's case.
I wouldn't worry too much - this is a pretty common problem with metal bell rings.
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2006-05-23 12:05
Chazmkan, if you use the search facility in this forum, using the words loose, bell, ring, you will find a very large amount of information on the subject.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2006-05-23 13:21
Hi Chuck- I may be one of your few "early risers", since the above posts come from NZ, AU, GB [others?] all giving good counsel on the ring questions. Their thots cover almost anything I could add, I do have a copy of Williman [other cl authors should have more to add] and when unpacked from moving to a "retirement home" [may have the homestead sold !!] will look there. Our [spring] humility here runs in the 40-50's, so even my loose rings are quite tight, my L-7 is its my best indicator. If your PF appears a bit "oil-dry", why not at least oil-swab the bore lightly then use a moist-sponge-in-bottle humidifier, and keep the loose-ring-cls in the more-humid house rooms, kitchen/bathroom. I have 3 "weather centers" to guide my storage, with the B W's approval [of course] !!! I also can recall only one instance when mechanical-compression tightening was desireable, with pro assistance. Early AM thots, regards to all, Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2006-05-23 14:01
Surprisingly my old Buffet R13 Eb still has a tight bell ring considering how knackered it was when I bought it, and a pair of Festivals I've just been working on are tight - well, they do reside in Eastbourne (one of Debussy's holiday towns) so they have the ideal maritime climate for woodwinds.
Unless you're playing outside on the bandstand during a gale.
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Author: chazman
Date: 2006-05-23 14:57
Thank you Don,
I do have an extra copy of Williman's book if you can not find yours.
I must ask you. Befor I start to add oil or increase the humidity level.
Should I set the ring to its tightest fitting on the bell, loosest, or some where in between?
Thank you
Chuck
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2006-05-23 15:55
Set it to it's loosest, then you can check it to see how it's doing.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2006-05-23 18:03
Y'know, I really had not thot about that detail, but YES, I agree w: Chris,, the loosest position so as to not overstress any portion of the thin, fragile bell. Ive been fortunate in not having had any cl in my posession crack [on me] but have several, some repaired. If the crack seems to still leak, I either rub beeswax into the crack, or have put a thin, black strip of electrician's tapeover it. It's barely "see-able and it works. "Nuff" ? Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2006-05-24 06:51
Putting beeswax into a crack makes it a lot more difficult for a technician to get better solutions such as black epoxy, or cyanoacrylate glue, to enter and stick.
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