Shrunken Clarinet wood?

Question

What do you do if the wood shrinks?

Answer 1

First off... DON'T PLAY IT!!!!  It could crack the wood if it expands too quickly from the moisture.  Usually they will shrink a little if it hasn't been played for a while.

Get some bore oil and a recorder swab (the kind that looks like an over-glorified pipe cleaner)... take just a few drops of bore oil and put it on the swab, then lightly and quickly swab inside each piece of the clarinet with it.  A little goes a long way.

Then, put a light coating on the outside of the clarinet... make sure it is even, not too thick, and don't get it on the pads.

Let it sit for 24-48 hours, out of the case and in a safe place, at room temperature (about 72 degrees F).

Then, make sure to cork grease the cork, and carefully put it together... bore oil it again and let it sit for another 24 hours.

At this point, you can play it, but try to keep it under 30 minutes.  Swab it out really well, re-grease the cork, and put it away as normal.  This should fix it.

If it needs to sit again for more than a month, I reccommend getting a humidifier (look in a cigar shop)... especially if you live in a dry arid climate like Colorado or Arizona.

Also, if it has a metal ring around the bell that has come loose, use a TINY drop of superglue to secure it and keep it from rattling.

If there are metal rings around the ends of the upper and lower joints (above the cork) and they have come loose... take it to a shop.  Same with the barrel.  Make sure you get these fixed professionally or else risk effecting the playability and tone.

Hope this helped! :)

Answer 2

Hello there...

I guess that could happen though I have never seen one myself.  If none of the joints fit together anymore and the keys don't line up with the holes,  I would say your clarinet is hopelessly ruined.

Not being able to see it is a disadvantage so I don't know specifically know how to advise you....   but the only thing you can do is carry it in to a clarinet repair specialist.   Ask for an evaluation of the condition of the instrument and an estimate for getting back into ready to play condition.    I do believe the tech can give you that information before you leave the shop.

I know that the wood on clarinet can get very dried out and that could required a good inside and out lubricating, but I have never heard of it actually shrinking.

Just let the repair tech give you his professional opinion.

Thank you for reading my post.  Good luck with it.