 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: thousandwords
Date: 2021-02-23 00:04
A few months ago I purchased a fipple whistle (a caval, to be more precise, or Kaval as it is also known in some parts) and the tone wholes get dirty really fast (woods used for those instruments are a lot softer than the grenadilla so maybe that is part of the reason, not sure). Also now I am thinking that maybe trying to treat the wood with the La Tromba wood oil I use on my clarinets might have something to do with it although not sure about that either, but I digress.
I would like to get in the habit of cleaning those tone holes regularly, and I imagine some sort of brush would be the ideal tool.
The diameters are almost identical with clarinet tone holes so I was wondering if anybody has a suggestion for a resource for cleaning brushes/implements suitable for clarinet tone hole sized orifices.
Much appreciated!
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Author: bmcgar ★2017
Date: 2021-02-23 02:00
Good quality cotton swabs and alcohol, or if they're very dirty, lighter fluid.
B.
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Author: thousandwords
Date: 2021-02-23 04:26
Perfect! One of those will fit snug enough! Will have to order a set. Great find- thank you!
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Author: Philip Caron
Date: 2021-02-23 18:58
The description at the link says the brushes "are made of food grade stainless steel and nylon wool." That made me question my understanding of "food grade." A quick lookup revealed that It doesn't mean you can eat the brushes. It means they contain no toxic materials and are deemed safe to use on food contact surfaces.
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Author: frenchbow44
Date: 2021-02-23 19:42
You can get a similar set of brushes as the ones linked by Bennett at Harbor Freight for $1.99
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Author: BethGraham
Date: 2021-02-23 21:00
I bought a small eyebrow/eyelash brush at a local dollar store that's perfect for the job. (Morrie Backun had recommended a clean mascara brush in last summer's virtual conference coordinated by Michele Anderson and others.)
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Author: OneWatt
Date: 2021-02-24 02:34
I'd suggest being cautious with the brushes that lack a protective rubber/plastic tip. The sharp tips can scratch the bore inside. (The cheapest ones cited above seem to lack such protective tips.)
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Author: thousandwords
Date: 2021-02-24 03:05
These are all great suggestions.
Loved Backun;s mascara brush idea too.
Yeah if tip is very sharp that could be an issue but in terms of mild inside bore surface scratches I an not too worried about.
The caval is made buy an artisan in his home workshop and inside surfaces are not glass smooth like in a clarinet, there are still tooling marks and such.
I suspect that is the general standard for artisanal instruments made outside corporate exacting requirements.
The caval plays beautifully though, which is probably why small individual artisans are able to make great traditional instruments: submillimetric tolerances are not necessary.
I am just about to order another one in a different key (my first one is in A), opens up new musical roads to travel.
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