 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: traceywooo
Date: 2012-08-27 17:45
I'm in the market for a nice cork grease, preferably one that won't be bad for the cork.
Right now I'm using Dr. Slick, which is nice, any opinions?
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2012-08-27 18:57
Stick with Slick.
It's as good as anything on the market and better than at least 99% of those.
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Author: Garth Libre
Date: 2012-08-27 19:03
I use Dr. Slick and although it's supposed to be better for the life span of the cork, it actually is only marginally slicker than anything else you might buy. Eventually, I suppose, we'll all break down and get those synthetic corks for our tenons. In the meantime, I just sand my corks down so it's not such a struggle to get the horn together and apart. I really believe that many of us bend our linkages and rings manhandling the instruments because many techs are too lazy to make the joints the perfect compromise between too tight and too loose. There are literally no really good places to get a hold of a clarinet while muscling over tight joints into place. I found a balance. I sand the corks down to just kinda tight and then use Dr. Slick to make it kinda easy to get the instrument together. I'd rather replace the corks every two years than have bent keys and leaking pads.
Garth, 305-981-4705. garthlibre@yahoo.com
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Author: kdk
Date: 2012-08-27 19:46
Garth Libre wrote:
> I just sand my corks down so it's not such a
> struggle to get the horn together and apart.
This works. You shouldn't need to apply so much torque that you risk bending keys - although there are safer places than others to hold the sections so you don't bend keys during normal assembly.
> I really believe
> that many of us bend our linkages and rings manhandling the
> instruments because many techs are too lazy to make the joints
> the perfect compromise between too tight and too loose.
This is a really broad statement, to which I can only respond by suggesting that if this applies to *your* tech, you should find a better one. My experience has been that the techs I've used have always adjusted corks to a workable thickness *when they mount them* on their own initiative. If a new instrument comes from the factory with too thick corks, you have to take it to the tech and ask to have them adjusted (but that's not a "lazy tech," just a sloppy production line).
Karl
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Author: TJTG
Date: 2012-08-27 19:54
I've been giving Ridenours cork grease a go. I feel like I have to apply it often, but it really is slick for turning your bridge key, but seems gummy enough to not let joints slip out. Very nice with the exception of having to apply it more than i used to.
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2012-08-27 20:25
Dr. Slick.....from The Doctor's Products.
Works great!
Jeff
“Everyone discovers their own way of destroying themselves, and some people choose the clarinet.” Kalman Opperman, 1919-2010
"A drummer is a musician's best friend."
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2012-08-27 20:37
Everyone here uses La Tromba - it's the local brand, and it just works.
--
Ben
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2012-08-27 20:58
I've been using La Tromba Marina grease. It works even in the ocean. ![[grin]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie5.gif)
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2012-08-27 22:30
La Tromba for me too. Been using it for decades now!
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: gwie
Date: 2012-08-28 03:56
I've bought tons of Dr. Slick, shared with many students and colleagues over the years.
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2012-08-28 14:44
I've been using the basic stick cork grease I get at the local store as long as I can remember and it's always worked just fine. The last ten or so years it's been the Music and Arts store brand and my corks last and last. Not for ever but a very long time as long as I keep them greased so it doesn't force. I've tried several others over the years and quit frankly have not found one much better than the other. As long as it's in a tube they all seem to work perfectly fine for me. Playnig bass, Bb and A all the time I go through a tube of two a year. Just don't confuse them for chap stick, which may work find too but I've never tried it. :-)
ESP eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: BartHx
Date: 2012-08-30 01:32
If Dr. Slick is not doing it for you, you might try stepping up to Dr. Syntek. It is clearly not for use on corks that are getting loose but, it works great on ones that might be a little tight. I do my own corks and adjust them for use with Dr. Syntek. I am extremely happy with it. When I do corks for someone else, I fit them with Dr. Syntek and the corks seem to work just fine when they start using generic cork grease on them.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2012-08-30 05:53
Why do you want to change from Dr. Slick? It is my second favorite cork grease and my favorite for players to put in their case because of the good lipstick tube.
I slightly prefer Alisyn cork grease but it comes in a different container that I don't like so much for just putting in the case. The lipstick tube is much better IMO. It has a nicer texture, less greasy, more like a cream and is just as good.
I've seen many use some of the other "regular" cork greases. It's impossible to say for that that they cause problems, but sometimes they do. Hard to say why. I've heard from a couple of people that thought the Dr. greases also do this just the same (IME they don't)...
BTW I don't like Dr. Syntek. IME it doesn't stay on the cork as well as the other two mentioned and my main problem with it is that it feels a lot more greasy.
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Author: Lorenzo_M
Date: 2012-08-30 08:07
I use Dr. Slick also, like a lot of other folks around here. I just like the way it feels (a lot like teflon), much slicker than the "regular" cork grease yet somehow less oily feeling. Smells better too. I ordered 5 tubes about 6 months ago, and have yet to come close to even using up one tube...
Also, my Buffet double case is the type that holds the clarinets with the bells attached. Regular cork grease seems to sometimes bind the bells (especially on my A clarinet) to the bottom joint, and Dr. Slick doesn't.
The best cork grease I ever used came in a tub of some sort...I don't remember the name. Too bad it's inconvenient to keep in a case, and I don't like the application method (as you have to dip your finger in the tub to apply).
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2012-08-30 11:13
I take a different view - I prefer the small tubs just because you have to apply it with your finger - that way you can use only the smallest amount and rub it well into the cork surface.
Many user's of lipstick tubes apply it just like lipstick and don't rub it into the cork, result is that majority of grease gets scraped off again as soon as joint is assembled and ends up all over the body of the instrument.
I now only stock the Dr Slick and only in tubs for above reason - usually have to give my customers a little demo (lecture?) on best way to apply grease.
Tip for those dumb Buffet double cases. Try and put the bell on by only a minimal amount when putting back in the case, usually 1/3 to 1/2 way on still allows the joint to go in.
This especially helps because Buffet put a slight taper in their sockets (WHY Buffet WHY???) and so cork is also not quite as fully compressed when partially on.
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2012-08-30 15:23
I mostly use plumbers waterproof grease. It's a white vegetable grease that comes in a 300ml tube, which cost about $3 and will last for years. I squeeze some into a small tin that once contained Tromba grease, and that lasts a couple of years. It doesn't seem to have any ill effects on cork or adhesive and doesn't get smelly with age
Tony F.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2012-08-30 15:43
I like La Tromba grease as it's heavy as opposed to the lipstick style ones which become thin when you spread them over the cork with your finger. La Tromba seems to keep its viscosity and only needs to be applied thinly and evenly as often as it needs to be.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2012-08-31 15:15
Rendered woolly mammoth fat works best for me. I get it in 55 gallon drums, and each drum lasts me more than a month!
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2012-08-31 15:55
Why, it smells like woolly mammoths, of course. What would you expect? Drives the dog nuts when I use the stuff.
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2012-08-31 16:05
Can you also use it for frying eggs?
I mean, I use lard, and I can.
--
Ben
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