[daigle65]

I don't think anyone makes a Pad Saver type swab for alto clarinet, I was thinking that one for bass flute would be the right size, but I don't think there's one out there either.
I have a bass recorder swab with the wire handle but it's a tight fit.

Any ideas?

I want something that I can leave in the instrument for 10 or 15 minutes and then take out, just long enough to absorb the moisture in the rather deep tone holes.

 

[Chris Peryagh]

A good shaking of the joints and blowing water from the toneholes after playing and then running a cotton pullthrough up the bore should really be enough to remove condensation.

If you do use padsavers, where will you store them after use if they're not to be left in the bore (which is inadvisable on wooden instruments, but should be fine on plastic ones)?

Flute padsavers (for the body joint) are designed for flute bores (which are usually 19mm) so they should be perfectly adequate for a 17 or 18mm alto clarinet bore and they're also around the right length for alto clarinet joints (the one destined for the lower joint can always be shortened), but you may have trouble with the one for the top joint if the speaker tube(s) protrude well into the bore.

 

[daigle65]

...If you do use padsavers, where will you store them after use if they're not to be left in the bore (which is inadvisable on wooden instruments, but should be fine on plastic ones)?

I keep all my padsavers outside the cases, on a shelf so they can dry. The only exception is on gigs or rehearsals but I take them out as soon as I get home.

....Flute padsavers (for the body joint) are designed for flute bores (which are usually 19mm) so they should be perfectly adequate for a 17 or 18mm alto clarinet bore and they're also around the right length for alto clarinet joints (the one destined for the lower joint can always be shortened), but you may have trouble with the one for the top joint if the speaker tube(s) protrude well into the bore.

I hadn't realized how close the bore size is to the C flute, maybe because the walls are so thick on the alto clarinet.
I would really only need one for the upper joint, I have problems with mildew in those tone holes.
Maybe an alto flute padsaver would be better? (I believe they make those) The fibers would poke into the tone holes a bit more.

Thanks for the reply Chris.

 

[Gordon (NZ)]

An HW brand soprano sax pad saver fits comfortably down my Emerson Alto flute - 23.6 mm bore. It is a bit too long, but these things are easy to shorten.
And HW brand does not drop lint.

 

[daigle65]

I'm a bit surprised by that, I have a soprano sax pad saver (don't know which brand), but it's much too big to fit inside the bore of the alto clarinet.

 

[Gordon (NZ)]

What is the bore diameter?

Pad savers vary enormously. HW is at the top of the reange.