Procedure in detail:
- Removal of keys is necessary only if
the middle tenon is to be recorked. Remove the four side trill keys on the
upper joint, the D/A ring key (upper bridge) and the C#/G# key.
- Remove the old tenon cork using the
water pump pliers. Grasp the tenon firmly with the pliers within the cork
groove and rotate the clarinet and pliers in opposite directions. Grasp the
tenon only firmly enough to remove the old cork. Too much pressure could damage
the tenon. When all the old cork is removed, wipe the tenon with a rag. Do not
use alcohol on plastic clarinets. Alcohol will cause crazing and lead to
breakage.
- Measure the width of the cork groove.
Mark the piece of 1/16" thick sheet cork - you will be cutting across what
appears to be the grain (see saxophone neck corking for explanation). Use the
razor blade and the metal ruler to cut the cork. Some tenons - bass clarinet -
have too large a diameter tenon to cut the cork as described above. It is not
always possible to cut the cork in this manner. Cut the cork along the length
of the sheet. You might save this cork sheet solely for this purpose.
- Bevel the sides (rails) of the newly
cut cork strip using the sanding block. Bevel the leading edge of the cork
strip.
- Apply contact cement to the under side
of the cork strip. The side of the strip with the bevel is considered to be the
top. Apply contact cement to the bevel of the leading edge, taking care not to
get any cement on the top surface of the cork strip. Apply the contact cement
to the cork groove of the clarinet. Let the cement dry to the touch - see
directions on the bottle of contact cement.
- Apply the cork to the tenon, starting
with the leading beveled edge on the under side of the clarinet. Work the cork
into the groove at the rails first, then pressing the center of the cork down.
Work around the entire tenon in this fashion and secure the trailing edge of
the cork against the leading edge bevel.
- Trim off the excess trailing edge of
the cork strip and sand this raised portion of the cork even with the rest.
Sand the entire cork now uniformly, stopping every so often to check for fit.
The clarinet joints should go together half way (dry, not greased).
- Grease the cork with lanolin or
paraffin, being sure to rub it in well. Wipe off excess lanolin (if used) and
grease as you would normally with cork grease. The lanolin or paraffin will
seal the cork, and not allow the cork grease to release the glue.
- Return the keys to the clarinet and in
reverse order of removal.
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