clarinets in rain

[The Squis]

My freshman year, i heard from my section leader that a semi-heavy rain shower
could ruin my wood clarinet... i am sure it could ruin the pads if precautions
are not take, but since my marching clarinet broke i have to use my nice one...
can any major damage come from rain and snow?

Suzy Wilson
DCHS bands
clarinet 2002

[Richard Bush]

Yes, yes, yes!

Rain and snow are very bad, but the difference in temperature between your breath
and the outside air could pop your wooden clarinet wide open. DON'T DO IT. Get a
beater from a pawn shop--play air horn with a wooden stick, but don't take your
good clarinet out for marching band, PERIOD!!

[Dribbles97]

I would never use my wooden clarinet for marching band. I have a plastic piece
of junk for MB, once when it needed to be fixed I borrowed one from my
director. In addition to rain you need to worry about temperature changes
cracking the wood and somebody making a mistake on the field and bumping in to
you or slipping on a muddy field. i don't know about you but I'd cry like a
baby if I hurt my Buffet clarinet. My advice is to ask anyone you can think of
to borrow one, even your old middle school teacher.

[Stephen Howard]

On 06 Sep 1999 19:19:31 GMT, thes...@aol.com (The Squis) wrote:

>My freshman year, i heard from my section leader that a semi-heavy rain shower
>could ruin my wood clarinet... i am sure it could ruin the pads if precautions
>are not take, but since my marching clarinet broke i have to use my nice one...
> can any major damage come from rain and snow?
>
>

The greatest risk from external moisture will be to the action. The
rod and point screws are steel, as may be the springs, and these will
rust rapidly if water gets into the action.
In order to combat this a strip down and lubrication job will be in
order, using a high spec gear oil.
As for the body and the pads, well, the occassional soaking will not
do too much harm - provided all the moisture is removed before storage
( which should be delayed in any case to allow natural evaporation to
do its work ).
Playing in snow implies an extreme of temperature, and I would be
concerned that the difference between the exterior temperature and
that of the bore may cause undue stress in the body.

The best bet is to get your marching horn fixed!!

Regards,
Stephen Howard - Woodwind repairs & period restorations
Emails to: shwoodwind {who is at }bigfoot dot com

[Kathy & Jeff Young]

The Squis <thes...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:19990906151931...@ng-cl1.aol.com...

> My freshman year, i heard from my section leader that a semi-heavy rain
shower
> could ruin my wood clarinet... i am sure it could ruin the pads if
precautions
> are not take, but since my marching clarinet broke i have to use my nice
one...
> can any major damage come from rain and snow?
>
>
>
>

Yes it can. There is a coating on the wood and that could get ruined in
rain. I also imagine that you know a wood clarinet is more likely to crack
if you play into it when it is cold, so if it is snowing and you play into
your instrument, you may have two broken clarinets

Jeff

[Doug.]

In article <63WA3.58$MO1....@cletus.bright.net>, Kathy & Jeff Young
<ka...@bright.net> writes

A few years ago a Regimental Band was engaged (along with others, pipe,
drums. etc.) to play whilst marching in our Local Hospital Carnival.
Half-way through the route the rain came down in buckets.

The Regimental Band clarinet players were undaunted. They put their
capes on and played with the clarinets through the top open neck part,
with the clarinets dry underneath.
The crowd had dininished but those who had umbrellas heard the Band
well, if a little muted.
--Doug.