How to Grease the Corks on a Clarinet

Maintaining your clarinet is a worthwhile task since it allows you to keep your instrument in great working condition. One of the ways to do this is to apply cork grease, which is a lubricant, to all the corks on your clarinet. The corks hold the clarinet together, so by learning how to apply cork grease properly to your clarinet, you can expand the longevity of your clarinet.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Clarinet

1. Remove your clarinet's mouthpiece from your case, and apply cork grease to the mouthpiece cork. The cork grease you use should resemble lip balm in a tube form or in a square plastic box.
2. Spread the grease around the cork with your fingers. Try to cover all areas of the cork since this will prevent the mouthpiece and barrel--as well as other sections--from sticking once you're done playing.
3. Wipe your fingers on a clean cloth after applying the grease. Although this step isn't mandatory, it can prevent covering your clarinet in excess grease.
4. Connect the mouthpiece and barrel. They should fit snugly. Remove the upper joint from your case, and grease the top cork.
5. Press down on the tone-hold rings on the upper section. This can allow the bridge key to lift so you can apply cork grease to the other cork. Connect the upper section with the barrel. Remove the lower section from the case.
6. Assemble the other end of the upper section with the lower section. Apply cork grease to the corked end of the lower section. Remove the bell from the case, and assemble the lower section to the bell.

Tips & Warnings

• The mouthpiece cork should be greased the first time you use it. You only need to apply grease to the other parts of the clarinet if you determine the corks are too dry. If they become too dry, the sections can be difficult to disassemble.
• Newer clarinets need more grease. The more you play, the less grease you should need to use.
• Don't force your clarinet's pieces together. Assemble the pieces gently. If the clarinet is hard to put together, have the corks sanded down at an instrument repair shop. And if the corks are too loose, you should have new corks installed.
• Avoid over-applying cork grease. It should disappear once you rub it in with your fingers. Otherwise it will smear all over once you fit the clarinet's pieces together.