Stuck Swabs

Stuck Swabs

The best remedy for stuck swabs is prevention. There are cotton swabs available which can’t be pulled far enough into the bore to get stuck in the first place. Or, a long, heavy string can be sewn to the bottom of the swab so that it can always be pulled back through the bottom should it stick.

But let’s suppose you’ve gotten your silk swab accidentally folded over or knotted on the end and stuck. Firstly, do not try to finish pulling it through the small end of the oboe with force. It can only stick worse. If you are somewhat mechanically inclined, remove the main row of keys to see if you can push the swab back down, through the tone holes, with a small screwdriver.

Now, let’s suppose it is stuck too far up the bore to reach it through the tone holes. What now? Many people would use a swab extractor, which is a thin metal rod with a handle on the bottom end, and a small, coarse screw soldered on the top end. The idea is to put this into the oboe and twist it into the swab, and then to pull the swab out. So where do you buy a swab extractor?

Well, I won’t tell you. They’re a terrible idea. I’ve seen many oboe bores badly gouged by such a tool. So, let me offer an easy, safe, and fast alternative. Buy yourself a narrow blade hobby knife, one small enough to reach into the reed well alongside the swab. Carefully cut the swab as close to the bottom of the reed well as possible, being careful not to cut into the bore or the metal reed well. Tuck any remaining threads in the well down into the bore. Then, take a piece of small drill rod to tap the swab down the bore with a light hammer. It may take several sharp taps with the oboe upright on the edge of a table or workbench, the g# key hanging over the edge, so it doesn’t get bent. I rest the oboe on something soft, like a doubled up cloth, or piece of plastic, so as not to damage the tenon. It should only take 2 or 3 taps.

The piece of drill rod should be about two and a half inches long. Shorter is sturdier than longer. And it should be nicely rounded on the bottom end with a file, so that it can’t scratch the bore. You can probably use a piece of large diameter saxophone rod, bought from your local music store. Do take notice how small the reed end of the bore is; it’s smaller than you may think.

If you can’t find a small hobby knife, use another piece of drill rod or sax rod. File or grind one end to a knife edge, and use that. I have never damaged a bore using this method, and it’s always fast in an emergency situation.