Typically petroleum jelly (like Vaseline), lip balm, and lanolin are used as cork grease alternatives. You can also make your own cork grease with bee's wax and a plant-based oil like coconut oil, or from tallow and lanolin. A good cork grease will both preserve and lubricate the cork but not harm your instrument.
When a clarinet is new you should use cork grease every time you put the instrument together for the first week or two. After that, the corks will soak up some of the grease and you only need to use it once or twice a week.
Re: Trumpet slide grease for clarinet cork ? So long as it doesn't contain petroleum jelly or other petroleum based ingredients, it should be fine. La Tromba cork grease can be used on tuning slides - it used to say 'Slide and cork grease' on the tubs, now it only says 'cork grease'.
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Product information.
| Item Weight | 0.15 ounces |
|---|
| ASIN | B0002D0HXA |
| Item model number | CG100 |
| Customer Reviews | 4.7 out of 5 stars 902 ratings 4.7 out of 5 stars |
Cork is made from the bark of a tree, Quercus suber, or the cork oak. These trees can grow pretty big, and they have really thick, rugged bark.
The woodwind family of instruments includes, from the highest sounding instruments to the lowest, the piccolo, flute, oboe, English horn, clarinet, E-flat clarinet, bass clarinet, bassoon and contrabassoon.
A clarinet should be cleaned regularly to avoid bacteria and mold buildup. Each time the instrument is played, the reed should be removed and the clarinet wiped out (swabbed) to remove moisture. Every week, the mouthpiece should be fully cleaned. Your clarinet should receive a deep cleaning monthly.
The top lip, corners, and bottom lip should all have equal pressure on the mouthpiece/reed. Another way to think about the top lip is to say Rrrr like a dog growling. Now, close off the lips so air can only blow into the mouthpiece. Keep the chin flat.
10 Easy Clarinet Maintenance Tips
- Use cork grease.
- Replace any torn pads.
- Oil keys twice a year.
- Be sure the tenon rings are not loose.
- Be sure the one and one B-flat fingering covers.
- Clean your mouthpiece occasionally.
- Thoroughly wipe any moisture off all tenons and sockets when packing up after playing.
| Woodwinds - Standard Repairs |
|---|
| Student Instruments (see below for Professional instruments) | Basic Service(details) | Repad/ Mechanical Overhaul (details) |
|---|
| Clarinet (Eb, Bb or A) | $65-$119 | $255-$350 |
| Alto Clarinet w/ring keys | $80 | $450 |
| Alto Clarinet w/plateau keys | $80 | $499 |
If it's an animal fat grease, without preservatives, it will go bad eventually. Rancid cork grease is one of the components of that intricate perfume of neglected old clarinet cases.
You should never use cork grease or vaseline on the joints of the flute. The keys themselves should only be oiled by a professional instrument repairer. The two joins on the flute (between the headjoint, the body and the footjoint) don't need lubricating per se, but sometimes they can get a bit tight.
The Cork Grease is a Bard accessory that increases symphonic playing speed. It can be bought from the Goblin Tinkerer.
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| This item Rico Bb Clarinet Reeds, Strength 2.5, 10-pack |
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Firstly, pull the flute to pieces. It is not necessary to oil the inside of the head joint. Use a piece of kitchen towel wrapped around a thin dowel or a flute cleaner, dip it in the oil and thoroughly coat the bore with the oily towel. Repeat with each joint, pushing the towel into the bore to cover it with oil.
