Cork Replacement: Clarinet Instrument Repair

Feeling brave enough to replace the cork on your clarinet? Master Sgt. Dale Barton provides step-by-step instructions to this detailed process.
The U.S. Army Field Band's Instrument Repair Series highlights how to care for and perform basic maintenance and repairs to your instrument. These fixes are intended to get you through difficult situations. Please consult a professional technician for proper guidance and advanced repairs.
For more information, please visit our website:
www.armyfieldband.com
www.armyfieldband.com
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Educational Activities Coordinator
The United States Army Field Band
4214 Field Band Drive
Suite 5330
Fort Meade, Maryland 20755-7055
#clarinet #musiced #armymusic

[@nheidner4881]

I have watched many instructional videos over the years and never commented on any. This one, however was superb. I learned to do instrument repair in college and my early career, however I haven't done it in years. I stopped in to remind myself how a clarinet cork is glued and wow! What a nice surprise as to how the whole process is done nowadays (i.e. no shellac or string wrapping). Very well done presentation. Thank you.

[@ronpowers745]

If the rest of the army is a knowledgeable and expert as this sergeant, we are as secure as a nation can be. Thanks Sarge!

[@nervchemnitz]

Watched this clip three times through, then went out and got all the parts and tools, and tonight sat down and successfully replaced the cork on my alto clarinet. It looks great now and saved me a bunch of money taking it to a repair shop. I didn't think I'd be able to do the cork wrap without it looking like crap, but cannot see where the overlap is now. I'm now super proud from the confidence of having done the job myself on my own horn!!! I plan to do the same work on my oboe next. Thank you Master Sgt Barton for your instruction videos, this was an awesome skill instruction!

[@PigTraverse]

That is probably the best practical and instructional video I have ever seen on KZbin! I've picked up all sorts of tips which are transferable to other projects, thanks for this. And, I will re-cork my own clarinet with confidence now.

[@ArmyFieldBand]

+PigTraverse Thanks for watching. We're glad you found some useful info!

[@iwant2bironchef2]

Thanks Master Sergeant, You've made this Marines job or repairing a clarinet a lot easier.

[@SuperPeader]

As a retired technical instructor and amateur musician, I have found your instructional video one of the best I have seen in many years. The instructional key points are reinforced with simple effective video close ups AND useful tips. MS Barton has a gift for dispensing his years of experience without losing the "amateur" audience (myself). Congratulations to you and the crew for a professional job. Well Done!

[@ArmyFieldBand]

Thank you! We're glad you like the videos!

[@568843daw]

I just saw this video. Woodwinds instruments need TLC when they are repaired. After all, most cost thousands of dollars. This Sgt. really has provided a wealth of information and possibly the most thorough explanation ever presented. Thank you.

[@steam3796]

This is one of those videos where I feel the legitimate need to comment. This video is so pragmatic in it's layout and instruction and its contextual information was so helpful and informative. I was in desperate need to repair my daughter's clarinet cork with a very short timeline and no repair person that had a realistic timeline. I was able to make the repair with my own two hands on an instrument I have no familiarity with and send my student back to school with a functioning instrument. Truly. Thank you for this.

[@mortlaursen5818]

This is a must watch video if you want to recork something. This guy’s ethos is summed up at 24:20 “Some say that a cork is a cork, it just holds the instrument together, but I say that there is just something special about a well done cork.”

[@bennybaker4926]

Thanks for the very helpful video, Sarge!

[@donholsomback2256]

The United States Army Field Band Thank you for this video. Not only did you give me the steps, but the confidence to recork my daughters clarinet. For a former Marine, it is hard to admit that I learned something from a soldier.

[@i.a.legacy879]

This is a great instruction. You know its good quality when the Army is making it

[@JHines-fx3hc]

Thank you so very much for your video!. This is my son's first time with a clarinet, and mine, and it was missing the cork at the mouth piece. Instead of sending it out to a shop I decided to follow your video and try replacing the cork myself. I am quite proud that after doing each step that I have completely and confidently attached a new cork. I did mess up while putting on the contact cement, put too much on, but I cleaned it off, redid the glue and finished attaching and sanding the cork perfectly. This is an awesome video! So detailed and I couldn''t have done this myself without watching this. Now I know when any future corks need to be replaced I can do it confidently! Thank you!

[@MegaMindyLou]

Fantastic! Msgt, it is so refreshing to hear someone speak clearly, intelligently and in complete sentences. You went over the instructions so clearly, I enjoyed the entire video. Normally I would skip around to the info I needed and then move on to the next KZbin video. Thank you.

[@colincampbell5121]

Thank you MSG Dale Barton, Superb demonstration, very clear instructions and I confirm I've just finished a 1st class job due to your video. C. Campbell RMA Concert Band

[@thierry323]

Perfect! I made it! Thank you for this service! Greetings from Switzerland

[@annestachura-girard4402]

OMG thank you SO much for this video! I have a clarinet in need of at least 2 corks..the repair will cost me $40.00 FOR EACH JOINT through the instrument repair shop. Now I truly feel I can do this myself! I found this video to be FULL of all sorts of "hints"..things that took him YEARS to learn!

[@schienenlaufer697]

It is a pleasure to watch and listen to a real expert working and explaining!

[@JesusMargarito]

Thank you so much for providing this video. We're a big music family and this according to my dad was a very insightful and thorough explanation on repairing a clarinet.

[@truckparts8083]

Watched many times. Thank you again.

[@ArmyFieldBand]

Glad it helped!

[@danieltweedie2442]

What a fantastic detailed and informative description, thank you

[@katemccollough1342]

Acetone dissolved the ABS/plastic on my Yamaha clarinet. Big mistake for me. I hope others figure this out before trying. Probably no issue with wood instruments however, the ABS resin in these Yamaha Clarinets instantly starts to melt. If would be helpful to find some way of offering a hint to others that might be are following this popular instructional video. Some people use a course narrow sting tied to a door knob to "floss out" and remove the remaining old contact cement from the grooves. I do like the idea of using new contact cement to remove the old contact cement. Lots of useful information here. Unfortunately some of this advice wrecked my clarinet. (note: I did not uses anything other than a "q-tip" with nail polish remover/not industrial strength acetone).

[@nervchemnitz]

Acetone or alcohol? I used nail polish remover (acetone) to clean the old glue off and I had no problems with my plastic Selmer alto clarinet. Alcohol - not acetone - is the compound the master sergeant said was bad for plastic instruments.

[@enyafaulk2044]

You’re right, acetone does dissolve plastic. He got it backwards in this video. Alcohol should have no effect on plastic, but acetone will dissolve it.

[@vanessaschulz5204]

Thank you for your service and for taking time to record and publish this informative video! I was able to repair my son's clarinet on Sunday so he wouldn't miss any instruction the following day. You do a great job of expaining every step and all of the items needed for this project so that even those with minimal knowledge of the instrument can successfully execute this repair. My son and I are so appreciative! Happy Thanksgiving!

[@jamcountrymusic]

Nice job! Very well done and informative too. I'm going to try my first Clarinet cork repair and this information video makes it look doable for the novice.

[@liverbird46]

Fantastic! Really clear instructions, extremely useful Anne

[@lichdust]

Man, masterful technique, that workshop makes me jealous!

[@matthewh3764]

I have been gifted an old clarinet in which I have found this video to be very helpful. I am excited to give it a go!

[@cazzab999]

A really helpful and thorough lesson on how to recork a clarinet joint. Very practical advice and some useful tips along the way. Many thanks.

[@kman316]

Thank you so much for this. I was able to recork my sons clarinet using your video. Excellent and much appreciated.

[@ArmyFieldBand]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it.

[@hiflyer53qwc]

Hey Msgt..thanks for reminding me how great Army training films are. And, I could easily see that you are someone who cares.

[@fredboreale5799]

Mr.Barton My hat is off to you,This has to be the best explained video on replacing tenon cork I have seen on KZbin, The time spent to go over everything needed to do the job was great not one of these video's that are 2 minutes long, Also your lighting and camera work was great to I could see everything you were doing. You gave me the guts to replace my mouthpiece cork and it came out great. Where do you get the tool to remove the old cork. Thanks Fred

[@007Commentator]

Thanks a lot for your videos! They are very helpful, include a lot of really excellent insider tips and the presentation is precise and comprehensible. I highly appreciate your work.

[@domvill7628]

at 2:48 when you drop your Oreo into your milk

[@warren6253]

lmao

[@teddydunn3513]

lmao I bet there are at least 10 more of those in there

[@tamikaolarinde2192]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@PinacoladaMatthew]

I followed your instructions, and it's so perfectly done. I am happy. Thank you.

[@ArmyFieldBand]

+justacondom That's great!

[@leopoldoroldan345]

Where did you get the sheet of cork he is using?

[@alekmartin9999]

Awesome tutorial!!. thanks for taking your time to explain each step..Very helpful!!

[@KreativeCrow]

Thank you so much for putting this up. You might have saved me 25 dollars to fix my daughters instrument.

[@556colt]

Great tip on using the tape on the sandpaper. My daughter just started playing, I bought her a decent used clarinet but it does need new cork. Thank you for this great video, I feel much more confident about doing it myself now.

[@Kalashnikirby]

THIS is how you do an instruction videos. Very practical and no-nonsense methods. I do wonder though, wouldn't you rather use a lathe for trimming the cork to its' required thickness (assuming you have one in your workshop) Or isn't it necessary anyways? Just asking because this repair is the only one I haven't tried to do on my own yet, but I'd much rather try on my own now. Thanks alot!

[@setLillie]

I am so in love with my Backun Clarinets. Protege and MoBa! So beautiful and pleasant to play.

[@RattlecanGuitarRestorations]

The sandpaper/tape tip was GOLD!

[@TheGholiday]

Thanks heaps for a great instructional video. I've just purchased a 2nd hand clarinet and while the corks don't need replacing yet, I'd say they will need doing in about 6 months or so. I now know how to do it myself and don't have to fork out extra money to get it done by someone else.

[@leopoldoroldan345]

Do you know where to purchase the sheet of cork he is using?

[@neilevans9668]

Great video, and thank you for your service!!

[@kingsofjazz4242]

This is what I was looking for since many years! Very useful and educative. Thank you so much! *****

[@reneignacio4674]

Iam a brasilian and I loved your videos. I loved your videos Make a video on wooden hydration for clarinet, please!! A hug

[@ArmyFieldBand]

+Rene Ignacio Thanks for watching! Our concert master suggests keeping a dampit or a humidifier in your case to keep the horn humid and prevent cracking.

[@fcukmegently]

Thank you Sergeant; very thorough and of course helpful.

[@pauljmeyer1]

Best explanations and great innovations.

[@roxcylou672]

Great tip on the Gulf Wax/candle wax on the cork. I care about my students so I will be sure to replace the cork on their clarinets with the wax as an added care of workmanship. Looking forward for more videos. Do you have any on flute repair? And also how to overhaul a moldy clarinet?

[@namcomim007]

Thank you so much for your video. Great job. Now, it's my turn. I got some old clarinets to repair..... Best regards from Belgium.

[@GrotrianSeiler]

What a valuable video! Now I have the confidence to do the corks on my oboe. Thanks

[@davidellena2509]

Awesome demo. Well done

[@CARZEL12]

love your lessons, very clear an detailed explanation. where can I get a replacement for the metal ring tied to the lower part on the side that unites the upper joint? I have an old clarinet that is missing that "Ring".

[@Jazzboy660]

Great Video! Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[@srorasco1]

Im starting to teach myself some instrument repairs for when I eventually go to CIOMIT. I am aiming to open my own business doing it for the less fortunate bands around the greater Houston area. This is a long term goal any tips/suggestions would be great. Thanks for the videos they are really useful.

[@ArmyFieldBand]

That's a great ambition. Good luck! The only tips we have would be to find a good teacher to teach you.

[@plj63]

Great video!!! So helpful. Thank you, thank you, and thank you.

[@springfeld100]

Great explanation ! Thank you !

[@WhatNow4140]

Wanted to say thank you for this video. I successfully replaced the cork on my old Recorder. It worked out very well. Now if you can do a video on fixing a recorder thumb hole bushing, that would be really great.

[@Bridgez777]

Thanks for all of the tips and tricks!

[@SharpData]

Wonderful! Thank you!

[@TheSpottytoad]

Thank you sir, fantastic video and very informative. I've watched 2 or 3 of your videos now and the instrument I have which is in need of cork repair has the cork applied to the mortise rather than the tenon. Do you have any tips you might offer or references you might suggest. Your video is loaded with helpful stuff but maybe there are tricks that can be employed on mortise repairs. Thanks so much for sharing.

[@sidewalksaints]

thorough guidance! thank you for your service:)

[@ArmyFieldBand]

Glad it was helpful!

[@virtualan]

Thank you for this - very informative

[@carlrasmussen3267]

There are small cans with a brush attached to the lid that can be used to store contact cement. The cans can be purchased from band repair supply vendors like Ferree's Tools, Allied Music Corp., etc. I use DAP original contact cement which can be thinned down with Ferree's H70S solvent when it gets too thick. No need to get the glue on your fingers! Use the brush. Also, a 1' length of leather shoelace can be used to remove dried excess contact cement from the tenon. Just put the clarinet in the bench peg as demonstrated in the video and rub the leather over the dried glue and it will come off due to the friction.

[@carlrasmussen3267]

What I also like about using DAP contact cement is I brush on the cement on various thicknesses of sheet cork and let tack up. When doing key corks, these pre-cemented corks will last weeks and can be at-the-ready when doing key cork installation. Just apply the contact cement to the key, let set up and the cork is all ready to be pressed to the key.

[@johnpargeter6060]

Brilliant. Thank you!

[@elving11]

Very informative! Thank you very much.

[@christiang.crochitorres9874]

Hello, thanks you for this amazing video. Could you please send me a link where I can find that tool that you used to remove the cork? Thank you again!

[@jsimusic]

Wonderful! thank you so very much! I will try.

[@TrippingTheTube]

Great tutorial. Thanks!

[@ArmyFieldBand]

You're welcome!

[@StokeyBob7]

Nice lesson.

[@blakeedward6749]

Where can you find a sheet of cork? Thank you.

[@WhatNow4140]

I was wondering if you could use the self stick cork for this.

[@carlrudd1858]

Most excellent.

[@StokeyBob7]

Also your rolling the cork on the bench is going to come in handy. Under my cork the turned area isn't flat but several radius's tuned into the wood. I'm thinking I will need to roll it on the bench and roll it on a piece of rod to press it into the grooves.

[@Kyoju252]

Wait..? There's a MOS for instrument repair? That's awesome!

[@StokeyBob7]

P.S. I'm thinking your right about the soft cork grease soaking in and dissolving the glue. (21:30) I've been using a nice soft cork grease and thinking it was great. I may have been sadly mistaken. I have started seeing problems like you described of the grease looking like it was soaking in and dissolving the adhesive.

[@abhilashvn7909]

Awsome brother

[@redsoil5821]

Very good. Thank u

[@sharnass3138]

very good

[@sergeyzharov7265]

Огромное спасибо за подробный видео урок.. я заменил пробку сам! :)

[@ArmyFieldBand]

Great, glad it helped!

[@flutemike]

Really useful. Thank you

[@bestsk8eva]

thank you for the wonderful tutorial, can you please tell me where can I find sheet cork? My daughter's clarinet needs new pads asap for her end of year concert. Thank you

[@ArmyFieldBand]

bestsk8eva It should be relatively easy to find if you search the web via clarinet supply and repair companies. You can also ask at you local music store - perhaps they have a vendor they like or search under the make or brand of your daughter's clarinet. Hope that helps!

[@UncleRio7777]

thx alot, big help big time!!!

[@frankdiggle1189]

Can I use waxed thread for the joints etc as with bagpipes, instead of using cork. Thank you, Frank, from Australia

[@doubleghod]

Thanx, Sarge. Too bad I tuned in after I cut my cork to size. I failed to bevel but it worked anyway. Another thing: when I put the cork in place, instead of pressing and rotating by hand I affix a mini hose clamp and let it do the work. I've done two corks on my Clarinets this way and it looks and sounds kosher. Do you see any problem setting the cork with a clamp? (I do get a little scalloping from the perforations in the hose clamp body but the sanding eliminates that)

[@vanesarubio12]

What can u use instead of a new cork just for a while

[@heinvanmaarschalkerwaart9799]

Good advice!!

[@heinvanmaarschalkerwaart9799]

I am Art Marshall i saw the Clarinet Quartet play my arr of Summertime on KZbin. I could hear that their clarinets have been well taken care of . Haha

[@104prof]

Thanks, I'll give it a try.

[@michaeltoke]

thankU

[@Bridgez777]

Please help ASAP- What size (thickness) do I need for tenon cork repair & Key cork repair? Where can I purchase it? Your videos are Awesome! I am going to attempt a total restoration on a Noblet Paris that my child inherited from a family member. I will be starting on it this week, Wish me luck! :) Also, do you have any 'tips or tricks' on shinning up the keys without taking them off? Thank you in advance! :)

[@sharnass3138]

thank you

[@flaviopereira3900]

good evening, Can you tell if the keys of a clarinet selmer in Sb fit the body of the Leblanc L45 clarinet?

[@dnaremah]

Cool ! Thanks.

[@TwinsFun]

if i need to recork a bass clarinet mouthpiece, is there a specific thickness of cork? if i get cork meant for a regular clarinet, will it fit properly too?

[@oscarcaravantes3413]

Thanks!!!! great!!

[@J0eF0r]

Thanks

[@angelrocha2458]

will any cork bought from hobby stores work for the clarinet?

[@Cantabile]

I once gouged out a strip of a corkboard with an x-acto knife, trimmed it, and glued it onto where it was needed. It was an emergency- I had a concert in about an hour and wouldn't have time to get to a repair shop. I planned to take it off and get it properly fixed afterwards, but forgot. 4 years later, the cork is still perfectly intact and works fine. Not that I encourage doing something like that, but I just thought it was pretty funny.

[@leonardbrown7751]

Super Duper! Glad to see my tax dollars at work in such an artistic way. I learned a great deal, looking forward to my first clarinet joint. Thanks Sarg!

[@chrisworkman3844]

Would you replace all the cork tenons, or just the bad one? Also, if you were in my situation, would you replace the bridge cork while you had the bride key off? Based on the serial number, my clarinet was made around 1984. I got it in 2016 from a local music store.

[@ArmyFieldBand]

No need to replace all of them if only one is bad. Don't replace the bridge cork unless it's bad! Also, don't mess with the bridge unless you REALLY know what you're doing - it can cause all sorts of annoying problems!

[@jamileepiatt9760]

I replaced my corks with ebay 2mm korks its loose what thickness do I need and where to get it thank you