Klarinet Archive - Posting 000772.txt from 1999/07

From: Bill Hausmann <bhausman@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Baby powder?
Date: Thu, 22 Jul 1999 22:33:29 -0400

At 01:08 PM 7/22/1999 -0500, Ed Lacy wrote:
>On Wed, 21 Jul 1999, Michael D. Moors wrote:
>
>> I have from teaching, sticking pads, caused from lack of proper
>> swapping can be fixed by the combination of a dollar bill (a 50 if you
>> want), closing the pad with the bill under it. Pull the bill out
>> several times..... Keep the tone hole and pad tight while pulling the
>> bill out.
>
>This technique used to be employed fairly universally. However, there now
>are many warnings against the practice, especially on the flute list,
>because, (a.) especially older bills can be very dirty, and therefore
>abrasive. Also, (b.) newer bills can leave ink residue on the pads. Many
>qualified flute technicians feel that using currency to clean pads is very
>damaging to them. Admittedly, flute pads tend to have thinner covers, and
>therefore may be a little more fragile than clarinet pads.
>
As I understand it, the slightly abrasive quality of the dollar bill paper
is the specific quality that makes this technique work! That is HOW it
cleans the seat and the pad! But only a fairly clean, crisp one will do.
Older ones LOSE the abrasiveness, and may well deposit more gunk than they
clean. And don't press down too hard! While you can do that with leather
saxophone pads, it is very possible to tear the skin on a bladder pad if
you overdo it.

Bill Hausmann bhausman@-----.com
451 Old Orchard Drive http://www.concentric.net/~bhausman
Essexville, MI 48732 http://members.wbs.net/homepages/z/o/o/zoot14.html
ICQ UIN 4862265

If you have to mic a saxophone, the rest of the band is too loud.

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