Klarinet Archive - Posting 000821.txt from 2003/03

From: Gary Truesdail <gir@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Next day/new padding
Date: Fri, 21 Mar 2003 12:47:16 -0500

1. Good thinking on your part. Now you need to come up with a way to cover the
silicon so it will not become sticky over time and not start a slow chemical
reaction with the metal.

2. Your next step will to figure out how to make the pads that must be thicker
because of the key design (they stand further away from the tone hole than the
register key)

Let us all know how many 'hoots' you give when the pad starts sticking.

GaryT

Joe West wrote:

> 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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