 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Sally
Date: 2011-01-20 16:20
Hello,
I know that the tone holes getting moisture in is a part of playing - swab regularly, use some absorbent paper to dry it out and blow in it is what I usually do - but why do some of them just continually fill up?
I can understand why the G#/C# key could cause a problem as it is on the back of the instrument and presumably gravity means the water will pool here.
However, recently my A throat hole just repeatedly gets waterlogged no matter what I do! I have only noticed the problem recently - it is actually since the pad was changed. However there are no problems with the new pad and it seems to be well seated so I wouldn't imagine that could be the reason - could it?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated as sometimes I can't even get through a whole movement without it causing a problem!
Sally
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Author: John Peacock
Date: 2011-01-20 18:45
I think the moisture takes preferred "rivers" down the bore, along bits of wood that are slightly less water repellent than others. This behaviour can certainly be altered. What I do is get a long non-sharp stick (a pencil with an eraser end works fine), smear this with cork grease, and carefully deposit this grease on
the bore "upstream" of the hole that's causing problems (it helps to look through the joint to a bright light to see where your stick's going). Then mop through to smear the grease in the direction away from the hole. That makes the moisture prefer to find a new channel.
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Author: William
Date: 2011-01-20 19:47
An oboist friend of mine uses the method described by John, only instead of corkgrease, he uses WD-40. Hasn't had a gurgle in years........
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2011-01-20 19:52
I agree with John that water makes it's own waterways and then tends to follow them even if that means coming out a vertical tonehole (A is quite a favourite).
Take key off and coat the inside of tonehole with thin film of bore oil or cork grease (a cotton bud works fine) but make sure you clean the rim of hole where pad seats before replacing key. This usually cures problem for months if not permanently.
Try not to put clarinet down so that water can form a track to the tonehole and swab frequently.
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Author: Ian White
Date: 2011-01-21 08:35
First, before doing any of the treatments suggested, make sure that the tone hole is clean - any deposits there will tend to attract moisture.
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