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Re: Bass bore blow-dryer

Author: Chris P
Date: 2023-03-16 02:53

There's a good reason why pullthroughs and mops have been used for aeons and why a modified hairdryer has never been used for this purpose.

Pullthroughs will wipe the bore and remove anything on its surface whereas blow-drying will evaporate the water and leave dirt, dust and mineral deposits. Over time, they'll just build up and leave the bore and toneholes all crusty. I've seen a clarinet that was played and put away wet for what must've been decades and the bore was completely encrusted with what looked like black sugar crystals which took lot of scrubbing with a nylon trumpet case brush to remove.

If mineral deposits are allowed to build up, removing them will require acid to dissolve them and then wash and rinse out and neutralise the joints which won't suit wooden clarinets at all well, whereas using a pullthrough in the normal manner will keep the bore clean, although grease, oils, fluff and other stuff will still build up in the toneholes which is where regular servicing comes into the equation.

The only time I've seen a hairdryer recommended for use is the instruction cards that came with Valentino Greenback pads where they show installing them and heating with a hairdryer and clamping them closed to create a deep impression in them, but that isn't required at all as they can be seated in the normal manner by floating them on a layer of hot glue (and not shellac as that requires more heat which will distort them). And not exactly a good thing to do with plastic clarinets (Buffet B10 clarinets used these pads) as the heat isn't concentrated and heating up one area of the plastic joint can end up softening or melting it. The heat from a hairdryer will however square up the rounded edges of the pads if you want the edges all looking nice and crisp and that can be done to the pads before installing or when they're in the pad cups before they go on the instrument.

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

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Bass bore blow-dryer

Julian ibiza

2023-03-15 21:00