Tech/maintenance cork for mouthpieces - no alternatives yet?

[PigSquealer]

The testing lab. 00:00 hour.

 

[PigSquealer]

Baseline of two samples.
Start 60% Humidity,Temperature 21.4c / 70.5f
Thickness #1, 1.94mm #2, 1.88mm
Durometer #1, 68.5° #2, 69.0°

@ 1:00 hour
Thickness
#1, 1.95mm #2, 1.86mm
Durometer
#1, 60.5° #2, 65°

Got distracted…
@3:00 hours
Thickness
#1, 1.95mm. #2, 1.85mm
Durometer
#1, 59° #2, 65°

J

 

[PigSquealer]

Additional information.
The samples are readily available as neck cork. Grade 3 and 42 x 64 x 2mm.
Basically the same grade Selmer Paris uses today.
Regulation cork depending on supplier is grade 2 or possibly grade 1. You get what you pay for. Also keep in mind that a true grade #1 may be too soft / spongy….better is not always good.


From RodMaker Magazine Volume 8 Issue #2

https://www.rodbuilding.org/library/corkscale.pdf

 

[Woodpad]

Is cork allergy even a thing?

Scientifically every protein can cause a reaction of the immune system. The lenti cells in cork contain protein, so it is possible. Toxicology than looks at occupational hazards to find unsafe levels of exposion. In the case of copper toxity they measured the amount of Cu in the hairs of copper miners. In this case they looked at cork traders and found a specific disease: suberosis. If this was a scientific forum I would start my answer like this. But as we are discussing saxophones and the second line of my comment contained the scientific impossible Cork allergy it is appropriate to think of the other meaning of allergy which only exists in the mind.

I’m completely clueless. Hard rubber with ??? as cork alternative of unknown material. SO ?????
Well curiosity killed the cat….but not the Pig. I’m still here and stick my snout into adventure of the universe of materials…View attachment 31897

Neoprene is weak for chlorinated solvents.

 

[cappers]

…. In this case they looked at cork traders and found a specific disease: suberosis. If this was a scientific forum I would start my answer like this.

'Suberosis' is an allergic reaction in the lungs (extrinsic allergic alveolitis or hypersensitivity pneumonitis ***) to fungal proteins in mouldy cork, not a reaction to cork itself. It was common in cork workers exposed to high levels of mouldy cork dust.

Some people may be allergic to the proteins present in cork but these allergic reactions are very rare.

*** A few years ago I spent a couple of days in hospital with EAA/HP after shovelling half a ton of dry rotted horse manure into sacks, and inhaling the dust without wearing a mask! Not fun.

 

[turf3]

Y'all do realize the reason we're interested in cork in the first place is its waterPROOFness, right?

It's a closed cell structure, the cells filled with air, which makes corks float indefinitely, and which makes them excellent at sealing bottle necks.

I'm sure that with very long term immersion a small amount of water will be absorbed into (not necessarily through) the walls of the cells, but not enough to matter.

 

[Pete Thomas]

It's a closed cell structure, the cells filled with air, which makes corks float indefinitely, and which makes them excellent at sealing bottle necks.

They are (or were) also usred for floating fishing nets. No good if they absorbed water.

Sadly its all plastic in the oceans now!

 

[Dr G]

Scientifically every protein can cause a reaction of the immune system. The lenti cells in cork contain protein, so it is possible. Toxicology than looks at occupational hazards to find unsafe levels of exposion. In the case of copper toxity they measured the amount of Cu in the hairs of copper miners. In this case they looked at cork traders and found a specific disease: suberosis. If this was a scientific forum I would start my answer like this. But as we are discussing saxophones and the second line of my comment contained the scientific impossible Cork allergy it is appropriate to think of the other meaning of allergy which only exists in the mind.

Neoprene is weak for chlorinated solvents.

Well, “scientifically”, one can die from water toxicity. Thank you for acknowledging that we are on a saxophone forum where one can and should assume consumer-level proportions of exposure.

 

[Woodpad]

Baseline of two samples.
Start 60% Humidity,Temperature 21.4c / 70.5f
Thickness #1, 1.94mm #2, 1.88mm
Durometer #1, 68.5° #2, 69.0°

@ 1:00 hour
Thickness
#1, 1.95mm #2, 1.86mm
Durometer
#1, 60.5° #2, 65°

Got distracted…
@3:00 hours
Thickness
#1, 1.95mm. #2, 1.85mm
Durometer
#1, 59° #2, 65°
View attachment 31903
View attachment 31904
View attachment 31905
View attachment 31906J

Nice test. It is not such a strong difference as dry and cooked pasta, but there is some difference. That sample 1 increased in thickness while sample 2 decreased is surprising.

 

[thomsax]

I’ve never bought cork tubes just for this reason. I wonder how elastic they are ? Sheet cork has very little elasticity. It’s like concrete. Compresses well, but doesn’t stretch.

I use to folow Erick. D. Brand method from the 30's. I use to fasten the neck in a bench vise. I use tapered tube corks. Use a med coarse round file tapered hole is not big enough. It's dry fitting a pad.

 

[turf3]

Nice test. It is not such a strong difference as dry and cooked pasta, but there is some difference. That sample 1 increased in thickness while sample 2 decreased is surprising.

All within normal measurement accuracy. For all intents and purposes, no change in thickness, no change in hardness.

 

[Targa]

They are (or were) also usred for floating fishing nets. No good if they absorbed water.

Sadly its all plastic in the oceans now!

Not to mention, although I am, original life jackets and life rings.

 

[PigSquealer]

From now on I will wear a mask when sanding cork !

 

[cappers]

From now on I will wear a mask when sanding cork !

I'm sure you wouldn't be using mouldy cork on your sax 😳

Apparently once the cork is stripped from the tree it is stored in slabs in warm and damp conditions to cure it. Mould fungi (mostly species of Penicillium and Aspergillus) colonise the surface and when the slabs are handled later are brushed off and cleaned, sending millions of fungal spores into the air! By the time the consumer gets the cork product it will (should!) be free from contaminants.

Nevertheless any dust is a potential respiratory irritant so a mask is a good idea

 

[PigSquealer]

Nevertheless any dust is a potential respiratory irritant so a mask is a good idea

Yeah I know. I suffer from extreme MCAS (Mast Cell Activation Syndrome). Although cork dust isn’t a trigger so far.

 

[PigSquealer]

Baseline of two samples for wet testing.

Start 60% Humidity,Temperature 21.4c / 70.5f
Thickness #1, 1.94mm #2, 1.88mm
Durometer #1, 68.5° #2, 69.0°

@ 1:00 hour
Thickness
#1, 1.95mm #2, 1.86mm
Durometer
#1, 60.5° #2, 65°

Got distracted…
@3:00 hours
Thickness
#1, 1.95mm. #2, 1.85mm
Durometer
#1, 59° #2, 65°

Compression test next preformed after 17 hours of natural drying. Temperature 69.5°/20.8°c. Humidity 31%

Sample #1 hammered as I would normally. Ball side used on steel surface.

#2 sample squeezed with parallel pliers like I would normally do.

Results

 

[Dr G]

Sample #1 hammered as I would normally. Ball side used on steel surface.

#2 sample squeezed with parallel pliers like I would normally do.

Which was more fun?

 

[PigSquealer]

Which was more fun?

I love heavy metal. I usually hammer to the song “War Pigs”.

 

[jazzdoh]

From now on I will wear a mask when sanding cork !

This one

 

[LostCircuits]

The pads & paint (lacquer?) had a bad reaction and melted together.

No, it's called eternal love!