The Clarinet BBoard

The Clarinet BBoard The C4 standard

New Topic | Go to Top | Go to Topic | Search | Help/Rules | Smileys/Notes | Log In

Previous Message | Next Message

Re: International shipping from the UK

Author: Chris P
Date: 2023-01-09 17:00

Tenon tip rings are usually stamped from sheet metal and made to be an interference fit on the tenon rings, then spun over the tenon rings to keep them in place, so they're often already work hardened and can therefore split because of metal fatigue when the wood swells.

The least troublesome cracks on clarinets are lower joint tenon cracks and most can be repaired simply by wicking superglue into them and then the natural compression of the wood will keep things solid. Metal tenon tip rings do reinforce thin-walled tenons like the lower joint one and safeguard it against cracks which are often caused when the tenon is pushed onto a bench peg with too much force. That same force can be used to the advantage that it will open up tenon cracks to allow superglue to wick into them.

There are those for and against metal tenon rings, tip rings, tenon cracks, whatever you like to call them, but well fitted ones will protect the tenons from cracking and provided they're sealed as they're fitted, that'll prevent water collecting and getting into the end grain which is often the cause of binding tenons.

I still think this is a total non-issue and if Selmer can replace just the metal tenon tip ring, then by all means have it done for peace of mind, even though it's something you can ignore.

I've had trouble with the fully metal sleeved middle tenon on Selmers being loose and shifting about which can be felt whilst playing (the C#/G# and LH2 ring key pillar base being the only thing to stop it spinning around), only they're not easy to simply remove and glue back on as they're crimped into a groove cut around the middle of the tenon and can only be machined off in two parts. Then refitted in two pars with the gap in the gap in the middle filled in with superglue and wood dust and machined smooth to form the tenon cork slot (as tenon cork slots should be left completely smooth and not grooved).

Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.

Reply To Message | Avail. Forums | Flat View

Newer Topic | Older Topic

Topics