The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: kdk
Date: 2017-10-05 17:23
Our orchestra rehearses each Friday night in the orchestra rehearsal room of a major university college of music. Many of the Wenger music stands in the room sink back down when you try to pull the desks up higher - they do this even without music on the desks. Does anyone know if there is an easy fix for this (read free or simple adjustment - they aren't our stands, but belong to the university)? I've considered bringing a bag full of hose clamps to rehearsal each week to put on the shafts to keep them from sinking all the way down, but placing and removing them each time would be a headache.
Karl
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Author: Mojo
Date: 2017-10-05 17:33
I just saw a video that suggests buying a bag of 1/2" tubing hangers. Search for it.
MojoMP.com
Mojo Mouthpiece Work LLC
MojoMouthpieceWork@yahoo.com
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2017-10-05 17:51
Have you tried using a spring "C" clip? Sometimes called tool clips, the sort of thing you put on a wall to clip tools to.
Tony F.
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Author: Jeff Chan
Date: 2017-10-05 19:04
My local university also has Wenger music stands and they exhibit the same problem. A large binder clip kept the stand elevated while allowing easy height adjustment without straining my hand, unlike the spring clamps I initially tried.
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Author: kdk
Date: 2017-10-05 19:47
So, the bottom line seems to be that no one knows of a way to adjust the stand itself? I mentioned that these were Wenger stands because I've never noticed this problem with Manhassets. I wonder what about Wenger's design allows this to happen. Must be an air release valve for some reason starts leaking. They're otherwise very good, sturdy music stands and lots of venues have them.
Thanks for the suggestions. They all sound less awkward than my hose clamp idea.
Karl
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Author: MartyMagnini
Date: 2017-10-05 20:28
It's sad that we accept such quality control from Wenger (and others) that there's a cottage industry of aftermarket parts. I have some of these - they are *somewhat* effective:
https://standaconda.com/
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Author: GeorgeL ★2017
Date: 2017-10-05 22:48
Sears tools sells a small plastic spring clamp for about $1. To the inside of each of the arms I added a piece of foam (from a cheap paint brush) held on with a rubber band.
At rehearsal, I clamp it with the foam against the pipe at a location where the clamp will stop downward movement of the pipe.
See: http://www.sears.com/craftsman-micro-needle-spring-clamp/p-00931494000P?plpSellerId=Sears&prdNo=20&blockNo=20&blockType=G20
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2017-10-05 23:16
They use friction to keep the desk at the desired height, but the clutch wears out and they sink or the desk spins around when you go to turn a page which is a pain.
I used to use a K&M can holder clamped to the inner (adjustable) shaft to prevent it sinking. I've even resorted to wrapping tape around the inner shaft to do the same thing, but that means it's set to one height only.
I got rid of mine (left it in a bandroom and never went back to collect it), so never got a chance to take it apart to see how the friction clutch is meant to work - as far as I could tell, there's absolutely no adjustment short of surgery.
I assume it has a plastic collar on the inside with forward facing jaws which are meant to grip the inner shaft with the weight of the desk and music when it's in use, but it slips as the powder coated inner shaft is too smooth. Even if it was rough to give more grip, that would probably wear out the clutch collar assembly too. The plastic collar containing the clutch says something like 'Do not oil' on it.
Like so many things, they work well on paper, but not in practice. I wonder if there's a patent number on it?
If you can braze a nut or a metal collar with a threaded hole for a locking screw onto the outer shaft and use a locking screw to hold the inner one in place (like a regular music stand), then that will work.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: shmuelyosef
Date: 2017-10-09 02:02
Manhasset makes these:
Manhasset Shaft Lock for Manhasset Music Stand
If you copy and search you will find them (posting links is apparently verboten here)
I have a half dozen of the manhasset stands with the metal desk and folding legs, and I often overload them with heavy chart folders and many books...these lock with a simple twist and the stand NEVER sinks...just a quarter turn unlocks and lets you adjust height then twist to lock.
Don't know if they will work on the Wenger...the diameters on the Manhassets are 24mm (outer tube) and 17mm (inner tube) for reference.
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Author: Philip Caron
Date: 2017-10-09 03:38
For jobs in this category I use duct tape. For jobs in the other category I use WD-40.
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2017-10-09 15:18
Attachment: 41RARl+onWL._SY355_.jpg (17k)
Agreed on the large binder clips. Cheaper and you can get at any office supply store. But get the really big ones and also go for a package since it is easy to forget that you put it on the stand's shaft.
HRL
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Author: kdk
Date: 2017-10-10 03:38
Just FYI by way of update, I've had an exchange of a couple of messages from a person at Wenger. Apparently, parts are available to repair newer stands, but not for the older style, which was discontinued. It seems Gerry-rigging clips of some kind is the best way to go.
Karl
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Author: gwie
Date: 2017-10-10 11:25
I just can't stand the fact that the Wenger stands weigh so much. I bought Wenger chairs, podiums, and other furniture for my orchestra classroom, but I went with Manhasset stands.
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