Rico RCRKGR01 Cork Grease

Product Information

Before you buy any grease, make sure your instrument has a cork. Sure, there’s a cork in the headjoint near the closed end, but I’m talking about the opening of the body. For a used clarinet, you need to apply cork grease regularly as and when you feel the moisture is down. When you buy a new piccolo, it may come with some grease. Most of my piccolos did, anyway. Now, the one used piccolo I bought didn’t come with any. Cork grease is a vital tool for most (though not all) piccolo models. Before you toss the tube that came with your piccolo, consider why it’s so important and how to use it.

Arguably, one of the most important parts of your clarinet to keep clean is the mouthpiece. This is because the mouthpiece is more likely to be contaminated with bacteria, yeasts and moulds than any other part of the instrument – and this is the part that you put in your mouth! By not cleaning the mouthpiece regularly, clarinettists are subjecting themselves to possible infections or allergic reactions. Now, the good news is that this can be very easily avoided by using a sanitiser spray regularly. There are several on the market currently, but many of them contain harmful chemicals and toxins – which ideally shouldn’t go anywhere near your mouth. The downside with a lip balm is that the moisture effect is for a short period. This means the clarinet can dry faster. As a result, you have to use the lip balm regularly on your clarinet. This may leave a strong residue, thereby affecting the cork in the long run. This could be a case if you are using an old clarinet. The process of applying cork grease changes significantly based on the age of the clarinet. You could also skip greasing your corks today since you shouldn’t need to apply cork grease each time you play. However, applying cork grease is essential to maintaining your instrument and should you should use it every 2 or 3 times you play, depending on how dry or tight your tenon corks are. It’s used to both lubricate the cork for instrument assembly and also to seal the joints for proper airflow.A less common brand but still a good option comes from Selmer. This is what I currently use, and it works great. I’ve had the same tube for years, so it can last you for quite a while. Yamaha

Verdict – An unscented, unflavored lip balm can be treated as a temporary alternative to cork grease, but it cannot be used for long due to its poor lubrication capacity. 3. Coconut oil Some of the unscented and unflavored lip balms may work pretty well as an alternative to cork grease though. These balms may be made from some of the same ingredients as cork grease including bee’s wax, natural plant oils, and other natural extracts. Since corks are non-durable items, they need to be changed periodically. As a rule of thumb, the cork should be changed every year or two (although this varies according to how the instrument is used and stored). In fact, in some instruments that are brought in for repair, this cork in the joint is quite worn out. With the clarinet shown in the photograph, the cork has come away easily in the hand. A cork that has deteriorated and worn out will come away easily, and in some cases may even flake right off. If this happens, take the instrument to a music shop for repair.For cork grease that comes in a flatter pallet, you can use your finger to dab a bit of grease. Then, rub your finger on the cork so that the grease gets on it. First, I want to clarify that not all piccolos require cork grease, and it could even hurt some models. For example, the Armstrong 204 and other all-metal models don’t feature a cork on the body tenon.

Then, you can put off having to replace the cork yet again. Taking better care of your piccolo can also help the whole instrument last longer, so you can save money on unnecessary repairs and upgrades. Add Grease Before StorageWe are particular fans of the Yamaha powder paper, which comes in a handy envelope with separate sheets. Yamaha Powder Paper Clarinet Key & Bore Oil Lip balm is a commonly used substitute for cork grease. Right from the texture to the product itself, it matches those of cork grease.

Using this grease should be a standard part of your piccolo maintenance routine. If you never use any of it, the cork will dry out, which may not seem like a big deal. The downside of Vaseline is that it can hold the cork together with its glue, which can eventually stop the instrument from functioning correctly.

Do Saxophones Need Cork Grease?

However, depending on the type and quality, your lip balm may actually work well for your tenon corks in a pinch. Several users of Vaseline find that Vaseline keeps the clarinet moisturized for a long time. Further, this is also a lot easier to use than cork grease. If you are new to lanolin-based cork grease, it might take time to get used to this consistency. Otherwise, this is a must-buy for each clarinet player. 3) Cork Grease for Woodwind Instrument Many musicians have used Vaseline or other petroleum jelly for their joint corks for years and haven’t had an issue. In fact, many swear by it and say that it even works better than cork grease. It is one of the most important cleaning tools every saxophonist should have. Do Saxophones Need Cork Grease?