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Re: Synthetic tenon corks

Author: shmuelyosef
Date: 2017-06-27 00:47

I have been testing the Valentino "cork" on my own clarinets for a couple years now and am quite satisfied with the results; I am now using this on other people's clarinets if they agree.

Several things that I have learned:
- 1. As mentioned, the "peel and stick" doesn't really hold up. I, too, started removing the adhesive and using proper contact cement. I have since discovered that just applying contact cement to the substrate and applying the Valentino directly works just as well. I have a middle tenon on my main clarinet that is now over a year with no visible signs of moving, chipping or wear.
- 2. One single scant application of grease is sufficient for the lifetime apparently. In general, I've found that if the cork (real cork in this case) is too tight, it needs grease all the time...for some reason, many repairers fit cork that makes joints very tight; the cork compresses and gets hard right away, requiring constant re-greasing, which deteriorates the cork (job security for repairers). I have found that the compliance of the Valentino cork let's me choose the net thickness I want to apply and use it as is. It comes in 1/64" increments.
- 3. If you have a clarinet with a deep tenon groove or badly fitted sockets, the Valentino is unsuitable. Somewhere between 3/64" and 1/16" the Valentino starts grabbing the socket and failing. It is best for really tight sockets (1/64" or 1/32"). For the thick ones I will continue to use actual cork.
- 4. I started out just trimming the end of the cork to make a butt joint (i.e. no sanded bevel) but this was very exacting, although the result was fine. Recently, I have been trying to just overlap it slightly, using my fingernail to press into the butt end and then a sharp razor to slice off the lapped piece flush. Seems to work splendidly, but I don't have more than 6 months experience on this with any clarinets (mine or others).

It does make assembling a clarinet much less stressful than with tight corks (as many clarinets seem to have). I bought a clarinet a while back that was overhauled by one of the very well-known names in the business (bought it direct from this individual) and I was afraid of damaging keywork all the time...

I also use the MusicMedic synthetic cork extensively in regulation points in both clarinets and saxophones, although I prefer natural cork (or felt) for places where it is a damping material (like under the larger key feet). The regulation can be set exact and stays perfect virtually forever with the MM cork. I have 10 years of history with my personal horns as well as customers'.

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Synthetic tenon corks new

skygardener

2007-11-24 13:25