Klarinet Archive - Posting 000103.txt from 1996/01

From: Dave Lane <davelane@-----.NET>
Subj: Re: Gortex, Straubinger
Date: Fri, 5 Jan 1996 04:32:54 -0500

"Gore-tex is the patented trade name for expanded polytetrafluoroethylene,
or PTFE[3]. It is the
same chemical as teflon, stretched at a high temperature to form a porous,
air permeable material.
Because of the small pore size, 0.1 micron, water and many organic solvents
penetrate Gore-tex as
a vapor but not as a liquid. Gore-tex is non-polar and chemically inert,
with no known solvating
agent. The source of its stability is the strong carbon-fluorine bond in the
molecule which
contributes to its excellent long-term aging characteristics."

The clarinet pads are a standard Buffet goldbeater-skinned pad, with an
extra wrapping of the goretex material.

I tried for two days to come up with a visual comparison of the Gore-tex
material. After finding the above info, I realized that it appeared
identical to the teflon tape a plumber would use! I unwrapped a pad and
compared it to the stuff in the garage tool chest, and it's a match (unless
you look closely for the 1 micron holes. My eyes are not what they used to
be). Most of the home handymen among us can probably picture a skin pad
with this stuff stretched across the face, and glued in back. That's a
Gore-tex pad.

Dave

you wrote:
>Anybody?
>
>OK, I give up. I've been in this business for a while and haven't heard
>of "Gortex pads." Who sells them, of what material are they made. Are
>they installed in the same manner as a conventional pad.
>
>
>Also a note about Straubinger pads: Where as I can see his (Dave's)
>concern as to how the pads are installed, is it really necessary to have
>expensive and extensive training in order to learn how to install a
>specific kind of pad? Keep in mind, I have no idea how much Dave
>Straubinger charges for this training, I'm only going on Klarinetwork
>hearsay. Also please keep in mind that I think David is a fine
>technician and I like the pads he has developed.
>
>
>Steve.
>Steve Prescott
>Instrument Rep.Tech./Clarinetist
>Indiana State University
>mipresc@-----.edu
>
>