Pad replacement advice

Taking care of your instrument

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WeekendFlutist
Posts: 8
Joined: Sat February 24, 2022 v:44 pm

Pad replacement advice

Hi anybody,

For u.s. do-it-yourselfs and hobbiest, does anyone have whatever online resources on how to replace pads, that they are willing to share?

Clearly it's non something for the faint of middle or those without untested patience.
It's just that I've done 2 flutes now with skilful results. I think they would take turned out meliorate in less fourth dimension if I had establish a ameliorate detailed instructions. In fact the pad replacement kit that I bought was surprising defective in item and came with shims manner too thick. I found myself cutting shims out of news paper and reusing the sometime ones where I could.

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pied_piper
Posts: 1951
Joined: Sat Mar 31, 2007 one:31 pm
Location: Virginia

Re: Pad replacement advice

Post by pied_piper »

Well, learning to supersede pads in a flute is not as easy every bit one might think. There is a lot more to information technology than simply removing the keys and swapping the pads. Flute manufacturers use unlike size pads and so in that location is a good gamble the pad "kit" you lot bought online may not have all the right sizes you need for your flute. Flute pads come in different diameters and different thicknesses. Did y'all measure the thickness of the pads in your flute before y'all ordered them? If yous bought the kit on eBay, there is a skilful chance they are not the best quality and that makes the job of installing them that much more hard. Did the kit include pad shims? Probably not. If not, you'll need to buy some of those too. Did your kit include an assortment of cork and/or felt in various thicknesses? You need that too. You need appropriate tools. Did your kit include a feeler gauge to check the pad coverage after each has been installed? Typical hardware store screwdrivers may not fit or can damage the screw slots. This goes on...

To acquire how to put pads in a flute, I suggest that you get this book which provides a reasonably good overview of the process, supplies, and tools needed to successfully repad a flute.

http://www.jlsmithco.com/books/servicin ... -j-l-smith

"Never requite a flute thespian a screwdriver."
--bearding--

rossaduc
Posts: 1
Joined: Saturday Aug eleven, 2022 12:34 pm

Re: Pad replacement advice

Post past rossaduc »

Funny I recall as a immature flutist, I repadded my flute first try with success. Used rolling papers to cut shims, used a existent block of solid shellac to bladder in the pads. Information technology is no as hard every bit som make out. Why? Well if it is not right piece of cake to figure out what to do about it, reshim it. Fifty-fifty the all-time overhaul specialists do a lot of their piece of work trial and fault. Sure you lot do it alot you get very methodical and likely save a bunch of time, only for those of u.s.a. but doing our own instrument or just replacing a couple of moisture damaged pads, the extra time is not that big a deal. James Phelan's book has been the reference for virtually everyone for 40 plus years, I believe I take one of the original copies effectually the house somewhere. Good luck

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pied_piper
Posts: 1951
Joined: Sat Mar 31, 2007 1:31 pm
Location: Virginia

Re: Pad replacement advice

Mail service by pied_piper »

A person who is technically acute and skillful at working with their hands may be able to successfully repad a flute if they have proficient instructions to follow. The problem is that oft people with little or no mechanical power think "How difficult tin can it exist? I just unscrew the pads and put in new ones" And so often, they will think all they need is a small screwdriver, a purse of pads ( with no consideration for the correct size or thickness and not agreement the shimming process) and of class they neglect. I've seen DIY flute repads where they used pads that were too thick and the keys would not fully close. Then they bring it into a store wondering why it doesn't work. They want a tech to "conform it" and get mad when they are told information technology can't be adjusted considering they used the wrong thickness pads and they all need to be replaced... once more...

Yous patently did your research starting with Phelan's book (I agree information technology's a great volume) and followed his guidelines. That was a formula for success.

"Never give a flute player a screwdriver."
--anonymous--