 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: C2thew
Date: 2007-07-27 05:18
So there's been loads of discussion in regards to getting rid of that vintage sulphur smell in rubber: bleach, soap and water, and apparently Acid is the solution (though it is a dangerous procedure, still sketchy as to how it works) but it seems like nothing works against green toning of rubber. i mean if you get a dremmel tool and polish off the rubber, some of it will come out (pending on the depth of the toning) but how do you get the rest out to even out the rubber?
i think that would make a fun thing to do, though it would in fact undermine those who are in the know how.
bleach damages the mouthpiece (destabilizes the rubber as i believe Omar said in the past) and leaves the rubber porous
soap and water spreads the oxidation (not sure why. i think it has something to do with reactivating the sulphur)
and a dremmel tool and metal polish works to a minor degree. (though haven't tried an industrial polisher. would be fun to though).
Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. they are but improved means to an unimproved end, an end which was already but too easy to arrive as railroads lead to Boston to New York
-Walden; Henry Thoreau
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Author: BobD
Date: 2007-07-27 11:48
So....if you really enjoy playing those old mps the smell and taste become acquired and you learn to love them.....like those broken in sneakers.
Bob Draznik
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Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2007-07-27 12:34
(Disclaimer -I sell a service to refurbish old mouthpieces or clarinets to black)
The greenish or brownish color of old hard rubber is due to coloration of sulphur compounds used in the vulcanization process as a catalyst that have reacted with atmospheric elements to form colored sulphur compounds of a wide variety of molecular species. The amounts of sulphur used in older formulations were variable and some mouthpieces and clarinets do not seem to have this situation while other batches with excess sulphur do. The characteristic smell is of sulphur compounds. Older Selmer mouthpieces and Chedeville (pre-1970) blanks seem to be the worst offenders.
Since the colored compounds are more stable than elemental sulphur they are difficult to remove or change to sulphur compounds which are black. The chemical modification of green or brown sulphur compounds to stable black sulphur compounds is not easy or a DIY procedure because of the toxic chemicals, and timing involved IME. Perhaps others have found a safer and easier chemical treatment to accomplish this? Some people care and others not about a coloration other than black.
L. Omar Henderson
www.doctorsprod.com
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2007-07-28 21:25
Gel-gloss is available at most Box stores, such as HomeDepot.
It won't do much for the tint, but it will make for a bright, smooth polish.
If the mouthpiece smells badly, try keeping it wrapped in a plastic bag with some baking soda for a few nights.
Most of these are lost causes, in my opinion.
I had a trade offer once that smelled so strongly, I could scarcely consider test playing it - these things have a disgusting taste that lingers ages!
http://www.gel-gloss.com/
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Author: C2thew
Date: 2007-07-28 22:30
i've heard about gel gloss too, and yes it will give the nice gloss polish. but is it safe to put in your mouth (after loads of polishing, washing and so forth).
Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. they are but improved means to an unimproved end, an end which was already but too easy to arrive as railroads lead to Boston to New York
-Walden; Henry Thoreau
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Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2007-07-29 00:32
Changing the sulphur compounds to the black form also removes those that taste and smell.
See - http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=181057&t=180273
L. Omar Henderson
www.doctorsprod.com
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Author: sherman
Date: 2007-07-30 20:40
(Disclaimer: I have the ultimate solution for this problem) See if you can find a crystal mouthpiece. It will remain the same color as long as you do not drop it at a concert. If you do, you will turn red, and then you will become blue. This can possibly turn into black depression, for certainly you will never be able to replace the crystal unless of course, you find an old greenish brown Selmer HS which will play perfectly. By the way, they also smell.
Omar: thank you for the Slippery Elm. It never comes off and these two tubes will last me for a very long time. Maybe, until I find a crystal. Then of course, I will put too much Slippery on it, and drop it again. It will always break, which is something that cannot be said about hard rubber, even green hard rubber.
Sherman Friedland
Post Edited (2007-07-30 20:41)
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Author: Ed Granger
Date: 2007-07-30 21:58
Maybe those of us who dig the vintage thing should be trying to figure out how to turn our clarinets green to match our old Steel Ebonites rather than the other way 'round.
Ed
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2007-07-30 22:16
But hard rubber may not always break but it will often (usually) break if dropped onto a hard surface (like a concrete bandstand) from any (in)decent height. I have a former teacher who lost a good Kaspar that way!
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: Ed Granger
Date: 2007-07-30 22:32
I seem to recall that hard rubber clarinets had a reputation for in fact breaking fairly easily. Plastic clarinets were an improvement in this respect.
Ed
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