 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: LJBraaten
Date: 2012-03-27 14:58
I know that there are commercial products dedicated to the task of cleaning tenons, but are there safe household products that will do the same? For example, is it safe to use a citrus based cleaner like Goo Gone and a soft brush? Any other suggestions, or do I order something from the M.D. .
Laurie
Laurie (he/him)
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Author: SteveG_CT
Date: 2012-03-27 16:02
I usually just wipe mine with a linen rag and this seems to clean them off pretty good. If you have some congealed grease to deal with you might try just some water and a toothbrush before trying any kind of harsher solvent.
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2012-03-27 16:30
Regular dish soap and warm water are safe and work well. You can use a 'Scotchbrite' pad with that if you like, just don't rub too hard.
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2012-03-27 17:26
I also use normal liquid hand soap plus a toothbrush. Works fine.
--
Ben
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2012-03-27 20:37
A paper towel lightly moistened with lighter fluid works just fine. Wear plastic gloves or similar if you are fussed about your fingers.
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2012-03-27 21:39
I use diluted washing up liquid and a soft toothbrush. Never had a problem yet. Use cold water if the joint is hard rubber, if you use warm water the hard rubber will change colour. The citrus-based cleaning agents will affect the adhesive if something like a contact adhesive has been used on the cork.
Tony F.
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Author: alanporter
Date: 2012-03-27 23:28
I have never, ever, deliberately cleaned my tenons and I have often wondered where on earth the wax goes.
tiaroa@shaw.ca
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2012-03-27 23:30
Although Scotchbrite was mentioned earlier, I would strongly advise any novice not to use it as they may overdo it just as I'd advise any novice never to oil, polish or do anything to their instrument other than use a pullthrough for the bore (or a Padsaver in a sax), kitchen towel to dry the sockets and a soft cotton cloth or old T-shirt to wipe the keys and joints down with after playing.
Reason being I recently overhauled an early Selmer Series 10S and the owner was very pleased with it when he got it back. But after playing he used Scotchbrite to clean the tenon corks with. I didn't know this until he called me to say the middle tenon was loose. When I saw the clarinet I was horrified to see all the ends of the tenons which were still as sharp edged as they left the factory when I last saw it had all been rounded off and the tenon corks were worn through in places. He thought he was doing the right thing by cleaning them off with Scotchbrite after playing (and he also dusted the keys down with talcum powder to clean them as well!).
My advice with tenons caked in old grease is to get an old reed, trim the tip thick and square, split it into several pieces along its length and use that to scrape around the tenon shoulders with the blunt end to remove old grease that's built up over time. Then regularly use a clean, dry cloth or dabbed with a bit of alcohol to wipe the tenon corks with to remove excess grease from them, but don't overdo it. Then apply a small amount of cork grease to get a thin, even layer on them every other time you assemble the clarinet or whenever it feels like hard work assembling it.
Use a good quality and thick grease instead of the lipstick style ones that you get with most instruments. My favourite cork grease is La Tromba and a tub of that lasts for years. http://www.thomann.de/gb/stoelzel_fett.htm?sid=bb5e060c0cb5aba814b8aa0e5e6df3f7
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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