Klarinet Archive - Posting 000543.txt from 1997/04

From: Roger Shilcock <roger.shilcock@-----.uk>
Subj: Re: Sticky pads
Date: Fri, 18 Apr 1997 10:46:50 -0400

On Thu, 17 Apr 1997, Randall, Stephen/LON wrote:

> Date: Thu, 17 Apr 1997 06:40:26 -0600
> From: "Randall, Stephen/LON" <srandall@-----.com>
> Reply-To: klarinet@-----.us
> To: '@-----.us>
> Subject: Sticky pads
>
> Does anyone know how to fix sticky pads?
>
> A couple of months ago I had my B&H Emperor Bb repadded in kid
> throughout. This is how it was supplied when I bought it new in
> 1973(ish) and I recall having zero problems with leaks until I was
> talked into having it repadded with some new fangled plastic stuff
> around 1980 and again in about 1990.
>
> I now have a problem with sticking pads, particularly the F/C key. The
> key releases after an unpredictable delay of up to 1 second which is
> very disconcerting. I can fix it for a while by clamping a corner of my
> chamois leather pull through under the pad and giving a bit of a twist
> to wipe it. However, the fix lasts for only about 15 mins playing time.
>
>
> The problem seems to be slowly fixing itself - at first I got only 10
> minutes playing time between wipes - but is there something I can do to
> help?
>
> Stephen Randall
> Principal Clarinet, Harrow Concert Band
>
Dear Stephen:
Talc (e.g. cheapo baby powder) works - sometimes. Can you see any actual
damage to the pad surfaces? Are you sure the chap who did it knew his job?
Perhaps the kid is not cured as it ought to be and absorbs water and
swells; after a while, the pads would remain slightly swollen permanently
in that case.
Roger Shilcock