Tech/maintenance Baritone water drainage.

[Vetinari]

What will be the safest way to improve pigtail drain?. The water key works but not effectively.
I find that I need to tilt and shake sax to drain properly. Tricky to do.

 

[turf3]

That's about it.

I think you could swab the lower inside of the loop with Vaseline to (MAYBE) improve collection of water at the bottom.

 

[rhysonsax]

I have two "pad savers" for baritone. The shorter one I use to mop through the neck after use (and the mouthpiece too) and the longer one I use to encourage the water out of the pig tail drain. The longer one is bright yellow and made by HW - I think it is this one from Dawkes. I don't keep either pad saver in the instrument after use.

I used to have a fancier one - a Hodge silk baritone swab but it didn't last very long until the outer covering came off, so I wouldn't get another of them.

Hope that helps

Rhys

 

[Vetinari]

I have two "pad savers" for baritone. The shorter one I use to mop through the neck after use (and the mouthpiece too) and the longer one I use to encourage the water out of the pig tail drain. The longer one is bright yellow and made by HW - I think it is this one from Dawkes. I don't keep either pad saver in the instrument after use.

I used to have a fancier one - a Hodge silk baritone swab but it didn't last very long until the outer covering came off, so I wouldn't get another of them.

Hope that helps

Rhys

This problem is for between songs while playing, and removing neck is not really an option.

 

[rhysonsax]

I find the bari plays fine even with water swilling around the pig tail. I just do a bit of drainage with the water key between tunes, or even in longer rests, with jiggling around to help water drain. Then a swab between sets or at the end of the session.

But if you think the drain hole is partially blocked then you might want to take off the key and use a pipe cleaner or similar to gently shift debris.

Do you swab the pig tail when you have finished playing ?

Rhys

 

[turf3]

This problem is for between songs while playing, and removing neck is not really an option.

Not a problem in real life. It takes one heck of a lot of playing in very cold conditions to get enough accumulation down there to matter, and then you just drain it with the water valve.

 

[Alphorn]

Never had a water problem when playing upto 1 1/2 h without draining. Be grateful you are not a trombone player where it starts gurgling after a few Songs.

 

[Vetinari]

Doesn't take much to make top G gurgle after about 15 mins playng then every 2 - 3 songs.

 

[Vetinari]

Do you swab the pig tail when you have finished playing ?

Always.

 

[turf3]

Doesn't take much to make top G gurgle after about 15 mins playng then every 2 - 3 songs.

That's almost certainly an issue with water forming a bubble at the octave vent. Adjust it so it opens more.

 

[Nick Wyver]

Use the water key and every 10 years or so take it to a tech who will dismantle the curly bit and clean all the crud out of it. Works for me.

 

[Vetinari]

Body octave key is a double type and is round the top bow away from pigtail and when it is open the pads are nearly 5mm from holes.

 

[Ivan]

Body octave key is a double type and is round the top bow away from pigtail and when it is open the pads are nearly 5mm from holes.

My money, if water accumulation is the cause of trouble, is a partially blocked drain hole as suggested above... It's amazing the crystalline crud that stalagmites/tites over that area

 

[Vetinari]

Wiill remove drain key tomorrow and check.

 

[PigSquealer]

Doesn't take much to make top G gurgle after about 15 mins playng then every 2 - 3 songs.

Is your mouthpiece full of water ? Are you blowing with the crook facing uphill ? Rotating the body to clear at the water key may also be clearing the mouthpiece. Just a hunch.

 

[LostCircuits]

Why can't you remove the neck? It's easier than pulling the mouthpiece, at least you don't need to worry about positioning it correctly. Unless it's a King with a double tenon, And then you shove a rolled paper napkin or whatever else is available into the crook to suck out the water, much safer than turning the horn upside down.

 

[Vetinari]

@PigSquealer Can't play it mp pointing up hill bari is too heavy to hold it that high.

@LostCircuits reciever is tight fit and can only remove neck when it's on stand.

Have cleaned drain hole but it appeared clear. It looks like key does not open far enough and surface tension stops water draing out properly, so will ask tech if he can bend key to allow wider opening.

 

[rhysonsax]

Have cleaned drain hole but it appeared clear. It looks like key does not open far enough and surface tension stops water draing out properly, so will ask tech if he can bend key to allow wider opening.

The drain valve on my Selmer bari seems to open about 3-4 mm and water flows out easily. I suppose the diameter of the drain hole makes a difference to how easily water drains out.

What make is your bari and how wide is the drain hole ?

Rhys

 

[turf3]

What I did was to shave the cork on the water key touch (that limits how much it can open), and then I shaved the cork that seals the water key as well.

Or, you can keep a rag and touch it to the drain when you open the key, and capillary action will draw the water out.

 

[Targa]

Or you could poke a straw down and suck.