How To Clean A Clarinet With Rubbing Alcohol

This article is part of a new series called Clarinet in the Time of COVID that aims to assistance clarinetists discover the about recent and important information regarding the evolution of our field as a consequence of the COVID-19 global pandemic. If y'all have information that y'all would like to share every bit a part of this serial please contact Jenny Maclay at assistant@clarinet.org.

Clarinet in the Time of COVID Series: Deep Cleaning the Clarinet

by Katherine Breeden

Clarinets spend a smashing deal of time in our hands being used, and they accrue dirt and germs. It is of import to maintain a thoroughly clean and well lubricated musical instrument to facilitate ease of playing, longevity of the horn, and to forbid affliction, specially in the era of COVID-19. This guide provides safe pedagogy for taking apart the clarinet completely, cleaning and oiling each of the components and reassembling the instrument.

Necessary Materials

Screwdrivers (ii); i with a .070 blade and one with a .085 blade
Spring hook (a aptitude paperclip volition too work)
Flat nose pliers (brass lined to non scratch the metal)
Spiral board
Needle oiler (for high viscosity lubricant)
Pipe cleaners (the fuzzy, crafting kind)
Isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol with a high percentage
Q-Tips
30 or 50 weight synthetic motor oil
Newspaper towels
0000 Steel Wool

Note: avoid silver polishing cloths, since they remove silver from the keys. If tarnish is a concern, buy 3M anti-tarnish strips and lay them in your case on the clarinet to forestall and remove tarnish.

Before start, note the following:

Components should eventually be put on in essentially the same order they were removed, since some keys must go on before others. Do not mix upwardly which screws go with which keys, they are not interchangeable. Accept a system! Using a spiral board and following the printed guild is most effective for avoiding errors.

The post-obit keys must exist un-sprung with the spring hook earlier removal, and later on re-sprung after they are replaced. Information technology may exist necessary to use a screwdriver with the spring claw when maneuvering the springs back into identify on the lower joint.

Upper articulation: L.H. ring keys

Lower joint: R.H. F/C and Ab/Eb keys, R.H. E/B key, R.H. ring keys

On the upper articulation the trill key cluster must be assembled and disassembled equally a unit.

On the lower joint, the left-hand Due east/B and F#/C# keys must likewise be assembled and disassembled as a unit.

Pay attending to the needle springs while cleaning the clarinet to avoid getting stabbed.

Brainstorm steps one-5 with only the top articulation, then repeat with the bottom articulation

Remove All Keys

Remove keys one at a time , working over a tabular array-space. Use the largest screwdriver head that volition fit to prevent stripping the screw.

Commencement, unscrew the key, then place the key to the side. Wipe the respective screw down on a paper towel and place the screw in the correct space in the screw board. If a characterization seems ambiguous, use a pen to write a clarification next to it on the screw board (ex. RH sliver).

Repeat this process, 1 key at a fourth dimension, until all keys are removed. Brand certain every screw is placed in the correctly labeled, designated spot on the screw lath.

Guess Order:

Top Articulation

C/F Thumb Ring

Side C Trill (removed with Bb trill)

Side Bb Trill

Ab Key

A Key

Side Bb/Eb

A/D Ring (un-jump beginning)

F# Band (united nations-spring offset)

G#/C#

Inline Bb/Eb

Lower Joint

Fifty.H. E/B Lever (removed with F#/C# lever)

L.H. F#C# Lever

Ring Cardinal (un-bound first)

R.H. F/C and Ab/Eb (united nations-spring both first)

R.H. Due east/B

R.H. F#/C#

B/F# Sliver

L.H. F/C Lever

Clean the Body of the Clarinet

For a wooden clarinet: utilise a Q-Tip dampened with h2o, isopropyl alcohol may be used sparingly for areas the water alone volition not clean

For a Greenline or other non-wooden clarinet: utilize a Q-Tip dampened with isopropyl booze

Wipe downwards the entire body of the joint with Q-Tips. Clean inside each of the tone holes, making sure to get within the undercut spaces. Keep the Q-Tip wet, and practice non strength it inside a tone pigsty if it will not go in. This can damage the tone holes!

Employ a dampened section of pipage cleaner to get inside whatever screw holes and to carefully clean the register vent. Do not push button the pipe cleaner all the way through the register vent, this will scratch the bore of the clarinet! Wipe abroad any fuzz the piping cleaner may leave behind.

Clean the Keys

Use a Q-Tip clammy with isopropyl booze to thoroughly wipe down the keys. Be careful to avoid getting any on pads or corks, since this tin can impairment them.

Use a clean Q-Tip clammy with water to gently wipe down pads and corks.

A segment of pipe cleaner dampened with rubbing alcohol should exist used to clean inside where the screws and rods will eventually be. Make sure to wipe away any fuzz.

Examine the springs on the keys, such every bit the right hand Eb side key for rust. If at that place is any, pinch off a minor amount of the steel wool and rub it forth the spring, and so discard the wool.

Make clean the Screws

These should exist cleaned i at a fourth dimension, being conscientious to render each screw to its properly labeled spot earlier moving on. To clean them, drop the spiral into a pocket-sized glass of booze, remove information technology using the pliers, and dry it off with a paper towel before replacing it in the board.

Reassemble Clarinet

Reassemble going in the reverse club of disassembly. Some keys must be replaced before others. Note above which keys must be replaced together, which springs need to be hooked while replacing the central, and which need to exist hooked with the spring claw later replacing the fundamental. Exercise non forcefulness anything, merely adjust the alignment of keys and screws/rods until they slide into place.

Before replacing keys, using a Q-Tip with some motor oil, gently run the Q-Tip forth the length of each needle spring to prevent rust. Merely a little oil is sufficient, they should not be soaked.

Each screw/rod should be given a drop/iii or four, of oil along its length before being replaced.

Turn the screw left before screwing it in, and wait until yous hear or feel the click of the lacing grab and restart. After hearing/feeling this click it is safe to spiral it in. This ensures the spiral is properly placed and will non be cantankerous laced.

After the key is placed, wipe away any excess oil from the screwhead with a clean Q-Tip and if applicable re-spring the spring hook with the needle spring. Press the key to brand sure information technology has tension. Repeat this with each cardinal until the instrument is reassembled.

Play the instrument to make certain it works and the spring tension/central activeness is as it should be.

What if mistakes take been made?

Was the incorrect rod used? Unscrew the rod completely and remove it. If the rod is too curt and is stuck within the key, using an unbent paperclip, notice the pigsty on the reverse side of the key and push the rod out from this side.

Is the fundamental tension too high/low? First make sure the spring is hooked properly. If information technology is not, either use a spring claw to hook it if possible, or else remove the primal and brand sure to catch the bound before replacing it. If the fundamental is hooked properly on the spring, it is probable the screw/rod has been under/overtightened. The tension on some keys is controlled by the tightness of the screw/rod it moves on. Suit by quarter turn until the tension is satisfactory.

When in doubt take the instrument to your local repair shop. They volition sort information technology out, practice not force anything to piece of work!