Precision is key! Optimizing a clarinet key can come down to just a few ten-thousandths of an inch.

There is almost always a way to fix a problem on a clarinet - and there are usually multiple ways to fix these issues. In this video, I take the approach of installing a screw that is three ten-thousandths of an inch smaller than the original screw. The result is a much crisper feel for the key action, which will allow the player to perform with more ease. This is just the first of 17 keys that need to be refined on the instrument, and everything really adds up in the end!
The clarinet key that I focus on in this video is usually the first key that I refine when I’m performing more involved maintenance or new clarinet setups.
I could make 10 more videos on different ways to approach this one mechanism and the issues it may present on other clarinets. In this case, installing a screw with a slightly smaller diameter proved to be the best solution.
There is so much unseen nuance in clarinet repair. It's not just about changing a pad or oiling a rod. “Behind the scenes”, I often change multiple screws. I've made hundreds of custom screws for repairs to address issues such as worn/loose keys needing larger screws, or tight-fitting keys needing slightly smaller screws. For multiple reasons, clarinet screws can also become bent (even from the factory). It’s possible to “unbend” a screw, but it doesn’t always solve the issue at hand.
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[@jennifergilman1377]

It’s what sent me crazy. Wish I had you as a repair person. My ‘f’/ low Bb had not been closing with my right pointer. Stuffy. But NEVER solved. Why? Because my repair man had bigger fatter fingers than me. So my complaints did not register with him. Informed every register that I played in. Finally made me buy a new clarinet.