Klarinet Archive - Posting 000818.txt from 2003/03

From: Joe West <west.12@-----.edu>
Subj: [kl] Next day/new padding
Date: Fri, 21 Mar 2003 11:33:52 -0500

Greetings all

New to the list, new to clarinet, 3 weeks now. Having a blast learning to play,
taking lessons and tinkering with clarinets.

A pad dropped off of my "play clarinet" a metal Holton. Not my actual one, I
practice on my beloved student, Artley 17s. I bought the Holton, because it
was cheap, looks nice and I love all things mechanical. So after practice, when
my embouchure is looking like a horse eating marsh mellows. I tinker with the
Holton. Trying to solve the leaks and key alignment issues.

Anyway a pad fell off, not surprising, so off I go to buy a set of pads.
None to be
had at the music stores, they have them but will not sell them unless I
give them
the Holton for a complete repad. Which I fully understand, yet for a
tinkerer/engineer
I must find a solution. The solution turned out to be rather simple and
inexpensive.
A tube of 100% pure white silicone, from Home Depot.

Remove the key, (the octave key in my case) clean pad cup. Fill cup with
silicone
till 1/16th inch over rim. Dip a knife in vegetable oil, using the flat of
knife, flatten
the silicone level with the cup. Now the important part!! Let sit for one
hour till a
"skin" forms on the surface of the silicone. Use a pin to puncture a small
hole in the side
of the pad, install the key allowing the key to gently rest on the hole.
The pad will
take on the shape of the hole, displaced silicone will weep from the pin prick,
wipe this off with a cloth. Use a wedge of wood to hold the key in the
position desired,
let cure over night.

Works like a champ, no leaks whatsoever!

Oh, I would think twice about doing this on a wooden clarinet, yet who
knows. No silicone
leaked on the clarinet, the oil and "skin" prevented the silicone from
entering the hole.

Clarinets are a hoot!!!

Joe

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