When I tried to get it off by takaing apart my Yamaha Advantage and using 70% and then 99% isopropyl alcohol on a qtip like this website to use, it still won't come off.
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Is the stuff on most of the keys of my clarinet mold and how to get it off?
- Thread starter PretzleMan88
- Start date
I'd recommend against using either alcohol percentage until someone more knowledgeable than I recommends it. 99% will suck the moisture out of your skin and you need proper ventilation. I use it to remove adhesives and paint. I have no idea what it'd do to plating. EDIT: Also note that alcohol will discolor rubber mouthpieces, probably some plastic ones, too. 99% IPA might melt one.
It's highly probable that you're looking at tarnish or worn plating, not mold. I'd think of mold on pads or inside your case. Possibly in or on the body of your horn, corks, or felts. In other words, porous stuff, not metals.
It's highly probable that you're looking at tarnish or worn plating, not mold. I'd think of mold on pads or inside your case. Possibly in or on the body of your horn, corks, or felts. In other words, porous stuff, not metals.
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Thanks! the alcohol does not seem to have damaged the plating on the keys. I only used the 70% alcohol on the body of the clarient
That article really omits a lot. I understand their point of using a little alcohol diluted with water to clean green or other grime that's on your horn, but it needs to be used for very small areas, like around a tone hole. That's why they said, "Use a Q-tip." Don't wipe your whole horn down with alcohol.
The webpage you linked clearly states at the top "Clarinet in the Time of COVID Series: Deep Cleaning the Clarinet"
So, this process was to destroy to Covid virus. Rubbing Alcohol (along with other cleaning supplies such as ingredients in dish soap that break apart grease) will break down the lipid layer of the Covid virus nearly instantly.
It is not for "cleaning" keys.
What you have is tarnish on the nickel keywork per your pictures.
I have a post I think somewhere on here about how you can polish your keys at home,
but I also have a video of it ==>
but be very careful as you don't want to get any polish on the pads which is very easy to do when polishing pad cups.
you could also wear gloves too
I think I have a couple various videos of doing it at home
So, this process was to destroy to Covid virus. Rubbing Alcohol (along with other cleaning supplies such as ingredients in dish soap that break apart grease) will break down the lipid layer of the Covid virus nearly instantly.
It is not for "cleaning" keys.
What you have is tarnish on the nickel keywork per your pictures.
I have a post I think somewhere on here about how you can polish your keys at home,
but I also have a video of it ==>
but be very careful as you don't want to get any polish on the pads which is very easy to do when polishing pad cups.
you could also wear gloves too
I think I have a couple various videos of doing it at home
here's a link to a writeup about it (no video)
In the shop I use a buffing wheel to clean everything with various "grits" of polish to get it to shine like jewelry. Of course, the pads and corks are removed too as those would be replaced.
In the shop I use a buffing wheel to clean everything with various "grits" of polish to get it to shine like jewelry. Of course, the pads and corks are removed too as those would be replaced.
I agree with Steve. That is nickel plate tarnishing or deteriorating. I don't know that its unhealthy, but I do agree that it is unsightly. That's the trouble with nickel, it looks good and wears hard, but unlike brass or silver it does not patina into an attractive form. It's given to flaking and that white, cloudy splotchy color that takes a very good buffing to suppress.