 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Vova Doob(UA)
Date: 2012-12-23 14:13
Hi! Two monthes ago I`ve bought Selmer Series 9 clarinet, that was made in 1963. It had no cracks. Today I found a crack on it.
Why it happens? I play the clarinet 10 years, my previous instrument also cracked after one month after i`ve start to play on it.
Can someon advice something for me! I don`t know why it happens!
(crack is not cross)
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2012-12-23 14:27
This is due to the current low ambient humidity levels and the increase in moisture content in the bore which cause the wood on the inside of the clarinet to expand causing stress which results in a surface crack.
Cracks occur more in the winter than any other time of year. Older clarinets that have been played in are less likely to cracking than brand new clarinets.
Don't panic as cracks can be repaired. It isn't the end of the world. My Series 9 Bb had a crack in the lower joint due to the metal socket lining.
The worst time of year to buy a new clarinet is in the winter as humidity levels are low and temperature changes are wide, so if buying a new clarinet, buy it in late spring or early summer and play it in gently over the first couple of months.
On older clarinets it's still best to buy them and play them when humidity levels are higher if they've been sat around and haven't been played for some time.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2012-12-23 15:54
(I am not saying that this is what happens in your case, these are just general observations)
The worst one can do is to leave the instrument on the stand during the heating period. The ambient air is bone dry (15..25% RH) and the fast moisturizing/drying cycles will result in large inner tensions in the wood that may make it crack some day.
Once you're done practicing/playing, swab the clarinet and then store it in its (latched) case after a few minutes of airing. A clothes closet is a good place to put the case in, as the fabrics/garments in the closet have a buffering effect on both moisture and temperature.
--
Ben
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Author: JerryForsyth
Date: 2012-12-24 13:00
I have shown the video of the Buffet factory to some fine wood-workers who build violins and billiard cues. When the film comes to the part where they show the wood being cut down all at once every woodworker winces. These folks all turn their wood down very slowly, thousandths of an inch at a time, to prevent warping and cracking. By cutting the wood so far so fast clarinet makers are not doing all that could be done to produce a quality piece of woodwork. Cutting wood slowly allows it to stabilize.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2012-12-24 13:18
While the video shows what seems to be the joints being turned to the final dimensions from a fresh billet, the wood has been set by to rest beforehand, so it doesn't go straight from a solid billet to a finished joint in one operation.
First the billets have a pilot bore drilled through them then set to rest. After that, the next stage is turning the square billets to cylinders or cones then setting by to rest (the bell rings are fitted at this stage). Then the bore is reamed out (but left undersize) and final outer shaping is done. Then the various toneholes and pillar holes are drilled and the bore is reamed to its final size.
Ideally the joints should rest for several months in between each stage, but high demand and productivity has no doubt hastened the resting period in between each stage.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
Post Edited (2012-12-24 13:18)
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