19 replies to this topic

[Crotchettymoomoo]

When practicing my clarinet for the 2nd time today I found I had lot of difficulty playing compared to a few hours earlier. I didn't take it apart after my first practice, I just swabbed it out so I checked to make sure I hadn't left anything stuffed inside it - no. Was I using dfferent or new reeds - no. It was only when I was taking it apart to put away for my lesson that I heard it rattling, something it's never done before. After gently shaking each piece in turn I found the culprit - the screw in the left hand F key had come free. It was still in it's hole but not in the key which was causing it to rattle. We have (quite literally) hundreds of screwdrivers at home but since they belong to OH they're all ridiculously large for clarinet repairs. Thankfully my teacher had a small screwdriver that fitted and so my lesson was saved!


I think it would be a good idea for me to have some small tools just for my clarinet for emergencies. What I'd like to know is what do you think are useful bits of kit for minor repairs like these? Are there any things that you think are essential?

Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated :-)

[UnnaturalHarmonics]

No need to splash out. Those ones you get in crackers fitted (fat?) quite nicely in my oboe case.

[Crotchettymoomoo]

No need to splash out. Those ones you get in crackers fitted (fat?) quite nicely in my oboe case.

I've googled 'woodwind repair screwdrivers' and I'm more confused than ever!

There are some very expensive ones (Pisoni) out there but since I still have 3 years' free servicing left I don't want anything fancy, just something I can use to save me a trip over the Pennines for something trivial that I can do myself.

[Jack Campin]

Adjustable silicone strap jar opener for shifting stuck clarinet joints.

 

Pipecleaners for degunging rod and pin mounts and key mounting tubes.

 

Half a toothbrush and an interdental brush for cleaning odd little crannies.

 

A few white seagull wing feathers for cleaning recorder windways - isn't it handy when the tools you need fall out of the sky?

[jim palmer]

Howarths do a useful-looking screwdriver-

http://www.howarth.u...id=34190&clo=uk

[Crotchettymoomoo]

 
Half a toothbrush and an interdental brush for cleaning odd little crannies.
 

I have loads of packets interdental brushes around the house which are untouched since we bought a waterpick, I never thought to use them on the clari before but they'll be perfect. Thanks!

[Crotchettymoomoo]

Howarths do a useful-looking screwdriver-
http://www.howarth.u...id=34190&clo=uk

That looks excellent. If only I'd needed it a couple of weeks ago when I was trying mouthpieces on approval from them - it would have saved on the postage :-)

[JimD]

A simple set of watchmakers screwdrivers are all you need to tighten up the small screws on just about any instrument. You can pick them up really cheap - e.g. http://www.ebay.co.u...ff14=108&ff19=0

[Arundodonuts]

As JimD says jewellers or watchmakers screwdrivers. Try to get decent ones. Cheap and nasty means the tips are soft, get chipped or bent and can damage screw heads. Mine have replaceable tips. I bought them from an online watchmakers tool shop, I can't remember the site I'm afraid but this type:

http://www.watchtool...-2_261_375.html

 

Not cheap but then neither was my oboe and compared with other running costs, reeds, music, lessons, it's peanuts.

[Crotchettymoomoo]

I didn't think to look at jewellery/watch repairs for small, fiddly screwdrivers. Thanks for the search tips.

When I did search for instrument repairs I found a lot of reviews saying the exact same thing about some cheaper tools being too soft or brittle and whilst I don't want to pay a fortune I know that I need something that might not be the cheapest tool in the box.

I was also wondering if it would be worth getting something like this:

http://www.amazon.co...r/dp/B00GDDIMPI

as some of the screws are quite a reach to get to - or do the micro screwdrivers do the job just as easily?

[hummingbird]

A simple set of watchmakers screwdrivers are all you need to tighten up the small screws on just about any instrument. You can pick them up really cheap - e.g. http://www.ebay.co.u...ff14=108&ff19=0

 

 

I've got something similar to JimD : http://www.amazon.co...screwdriver set

[violoboist]

Spring hook!

[Jack Campin]

I've never used a special-purpose spring hook but I do carry a crochet hook around for putting slipped sax springs back.

[Arundodonuts]

I've found the tip of the screwdriver works OK to flick springs back into place. Though a springhook would undoubtedly be better, I've not had the need for one. Yet!

[Roseau]

Howarths do a useful-looking screwdriver-

http://www.howarth.u...id=34190&clo=uk

Thanks for posting this Jim. I already had a small screwdriver with a wooden handle which came with my oboe, which Iike but of thes ones you posted a picture of came with my Lorée cor anglais. It has always annoyed me because the end of the handle moves - it never occurred to me to unscrew it completely and look inside!