 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: maxopf
Date: 2015-01-22 10:59
I just polished the (previously tarnished and cloudy) keys on a Buffet "Pre-R13" with a generic silver polishing cloth, which happens to work quite well for nickel silver too, and it occurred to me that the polishing cloth may have made some contact with the wood. Should I be worried about the polish damaging the wood in any way, or am I overthinking things?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: nellsonic
Date: 2015-01-22 13:54
Yes, you are overthinking. You could always carefully wipe down that part of the wood with a damp (not wet) cloth, being careful to avoid the pads if you are concerned.
Btw, hello from down the road in Poway! (Your location shows on your posts.) Are you planning to see the upcoming San Diego Symphony performance of the Mozart Concerto?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: pewd
Date: 2015-01-22 19:53
> Should I be worried
No.
> am I overthinking things?
yes.
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: maxopf
Date: 2015-01-23 01:01
nellsonic: My posts place my location in Vista but I'm actually in Encinitas. I am going to see the Mozart concerto performance - really looking forward to it! I really don't listen to the symphony often enough, especially considering that my teacher plays in it (Terri Tunnicliff, 2nd/Eb clarinet.)
WhitePlainsDave: Thanks, I'll check those out. This was an old instrument that I just recently had re-serviced, and the keys were very cloudy and needed a good polishing; usually I don't have as much of an issue with the metal going cloudy quickly.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: maxopf
Date: 2015-01-23 02:42
The Pre-R13 has unplated German silver as well. My A clarinet is silver plated.
I don't mind a little dullness, but the Pre-R13 was completely clouded with a yellow-grayish tarnish, complete with fingerprints that were left on the instrument before it was put away for decades.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: nellsonic
Date: 2015-01-23 09:52
Cool. I don't know Terri, but I look forward to meeting her someday.
Are you familiar with the San Diego Clarinet Society? I've been on the email list for years but finally went to my first meeting this month and had a really nice time playing in the clarinet choir.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: maxopf
Date: 2015-01-23 10:07
I am familiar with it, though I've never been involved in it. I hear they have a clarinet competition open to high schoolers, I'll have to look into that.
My previous clarinet teacher is a part of it, I believe - Jim Reed is his name. (I always thought that was a great last name for a clarinetist.)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: nellsonic
Date: 2015-01-23 11:00
Yes, I know Jim. Great guy! There was no competition last year, but plans are being made for this spring. I'm sure your teacher will hear about it once it's announced. Sorry to have derailed your thread!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Chris P
Date: 2015-01-23 17:21
I use a strip of silvercloth to give a final buffing to joints when I've filled in cracks and after papering up and polishing them. The very fine abrasive in the polishing cloth brings up the shine in the wood and the filler if the rest of the joints are highly polished so it all blends in well. Also works with plastic and ebonite joints - silver polishing cloths won't do any harm to wood, ebonite or plastic.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: TomS
Date: 2015-01-23 20:45
I like the tarnished, distressed look. Polishing is messy, time consuming, just takes more plating off, and the instrument doesn't play any better.
I always tell the repair technician to not buff or polish the keys, just wipe them off a little with a cloth to remove dirt.
Tom
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
