 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: joe423
Date: 2013-04-09 21:09
I am getting into fixing/overhauling clarinets. I currently have 4 clarinets that I am repairing and I plan to get more. Anyway, I want to get a good assortment of pads to replace whatever needs replacing. I am going to get the De'jur pads from Ferree's but I don't know what sizes I should get. I could get the 100 assortment pack but that's a little more than I am looking to spend. Can you tell me what sizes that I should get to be prepared? I'm look to get about 3 dozen. Thanks
1975 Buffet R13 Bb Clarinet
1968 Buffet R13 A Clarinet
Pyne Clarion Mouthpiece
Vandoren V12 3.5 Reeds
Vandoren Optimum Ligature
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2013-04-09 21:30
The best thing to do is strip the clarinets down, measure the inside diameters of all the pad cups and make a list of all these diameters so you'll have a comprehensive pad size chart which will cover most clarinets (if all the clarinets you have are different makes).
For skin pads with shoulders which are the most common type of pad used on clarinets, you'll need to order them 1mm larger than the internal pad cup diameter - so if your pad cup measures 9mm, you'll use a 10mm skin pad with it.
For leather and cork pads, they fit within the pad cup so order the same size pad as the inside diameter of the pad cup.
If you don't want to strip them all right down, then measure all the outer diameters of the pad cups and make a list of all these diameters. For skin pads, order these sizes. But for leather or cork pads, subtract 1mm from the outer diameter of the pad cup (eg. a 10mm pad cup will have a 9mm leather or cork pad).
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
Post Edited (2013-04-09 21:36)
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2013-04-09 22:37
MusicMedic sell pads in sets sized for specific make/model.
See: http://www.musicmedic.com/catalog/categories/cat_24.html
Disclaimer. I have no connection with MusicMedic other than as a satisfied customer.
Tony F.
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2013-04-09 23:30
MM is a good start. In most cases, their sets are the correct sizes.
(and if they happen not to be, to their defense I'd say that there are tons of eg Noblets out there, and if you have one of the odd models where the one pad is too small or too large, well, such is life)
--
Ben
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Author: Jim22
Date: 2013-04-10 04:34
I have not had good luck trying to measure and order exactly what I need. I suggest you measure, and the order one or two pads of the size you predict plus two 0.5mm under and two 0.5mm over. You get a much better sense of the best size to use when you have an assortment to try. Once you determine the real size you like, reorder the number you need plus some spares.
Musicmedic, instrumentclinicusa, jlsmith, vowtawtools all will ship small quantities of various sizes. I like the instrumentclinic pads for clarinet and flute.
Jim
Jim C.
CT, USA
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Author: joe423
Date: 2013-04-10 15:04
Thanks for the info. Should I get the 2.7mm thick or the 3.0mm thick?
1975 Buffet R13 Bb Clarinet
1968 Buffet R13 A Clarinet
Pyne Clarion Mouthpiece
Vandoren V12 3.5 Reeds
Vandoren Optimum Ligature
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2013-04-10 15:38
2.7mm thick if they're Buffets as they have a thinner set than most clarinets.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: joe423
Date: 2013-04-10 15:46
Dang, so the same pad thickness won't work on the student clarinets that I have and my Buffets?
1975 Buffet R13 Bb Clarinet
1968 Buffet R13 A Clarinet
Pyne Clarion Mouthpiece
Vandoren V12 3.5 Reeds
Vandoren Optimum Ligature
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2013-04-10 15:51
They might do - you'll have to check by dry fitting them.
If they're too thin they won't close at the back and if too thick they won't close at the front, so will have to be installed at an angle so they seat instead of having an even amount of sidewall showing around the entire circumference.
You'll find the RH F#/C# pad is the one which will give you most grief if it's too thick or too thin.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: joe423
Date: 2013-04-10 16:11
Alright, thanks. I'll try the 2.7mm assortment pack of 50 and see how far that takes me.
1975 Buffet R13 Bb Clarinet
1968 Buffet R13 A Clarinet
Pyne Clarion Mouthpiece
Vandoren V12 3.5 Reeds
Vandoren Optimum Ligature
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2013-04-10 16:16
You're better off having pads that are slightly too thin than too thick - you can use more shellac to float them in on so they will sit evenly in the pad cups once seated.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: joe423
Date: 2013-04-10 16:18
Oh, I never thought of that. Well 2.7mm it is. Thanks a lot for all the help!
1975 Buffet R13 Bb Clarinet
1968 Buffet R13 A Clarinet
Pyne Clarion Mouthpiece
Vandoren V12 3.5 Reeds
Vandoren Optimum Ligature
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Author: pewd
Date: 2013-04-10 16:21
Get a LOT of the 10mm pads. Most of the top joint pads are 10mm.
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2013-04-10 16:58
Definitely - and they're usually the ones that need replacing the most.
I think Buffets use 9.5mm skin pads for most of the top joint keys, but measure the pad cups before ordering any.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2013-04-10 18:53
Get:
1 dz. 9mm
2 dz. 9.5mm
2 dz. 10mm
1 dz. 11mm
1 dz. 15.5mm
1 dz. 16mm
1 dz. 16.5mm
1 dz. 17mm
Then you can practically be assured of being able to repad at least a half dozen clarinets (Boehm system, that is) of nearly any brand.
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Author: joe423
Date: 2013-04-10 19:37
Yes! Thank you David, that was exactly what I was looking for.
1975 Buffet R13 Bb Clarinet
1968 Buffet R13 A Clarinet
Pyne Clarion Mouthpiece
Vandoren V12 3.5 Reeds
Vandoren Optimum Ligature
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2013-04-10 20:49
One pad size that's massively variable on clarinets is the LH1 ring key pad - it can be between 8mm to 9.5mm depending on the make.
This is the reason I prefer to use cork pads as they can be altered to fit any size pad cup, but they do require a fair bit of work to be successful as everything about them and the tonehole they seat on have to be spot on.
But as you're starting out, best go with the most popular type of pad which are skin pads.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: joe423
Date: 2013-04-10 21:25
Email Sent to Steve!
I've heard of the cork presses where you can make your own cork pads out of sheet cork. That seems like a good idea.
1975 Buffet R13 Bb Clarinet
1968 Buffet R13 A Clarinet
Pyne Clarion Mouthpiece
Vandoren V12 3.5 Reeds
Vandoren Optimum Ligature
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2013-04-10 21:41
You can get cork cutters to make your own cork pads, but the problem is the quality of the sheet cork - most sheet cork isn't anywhere near the standard you'd want to make cork pads from as there are far too many pores and other imperfections in it. Cork pads have to be made from premium quality cork with absolutely no pores or other imprefections in it which is why they command a fairly high price, but you can buy cork pads in all sizes from 5mm to 16mm. They need to be prepared before use, so the face has to be ground flat using two or three grades (coarse through to fine) of either white pumice or similar abrasive blocks or emery paper laid on glass to ensure they're ground flat before you can install them.
The other thing you will have to do is tidy up the toneholes so there aren't any nicks, chips or open vessels running across the bedplace, as well as making sure they're perfectly level as cork pads have very little give in them so they won't conform to any unevenness, bumps or chips on the tonehole bedplace. Skin and leather pads being much softer will conform to a better degree, but it's still important the toneholes are in as good condition before repadding to be sure there aren't any micro leaks as more and more small leaks over the entire instrument soon add up to a major leak and will cause response problems.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2013-04-11 03:27
Along with my favorite leather pads, I get my cork pads from Ferree's Tools and they are of excellent quality and not too pricey. I just finished an oboe overhaul with the entire upper joint done in these cork pads, and the instrument sealed nicely with very little pad adjustment needed.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2013-04-11 06:08
On oboes my personal preference is to cork pad everything, although I will use white leather pads in the largest pad cups on some instruments as that's the standard used by several makers nowadays.
On clarinets I will usually cork pad right down to the B/F# sliver key and leather pads in the largest pad cups, sometimes fitting a cork pad in the Ab/Eb key. If the customer prefers more leather pads, then I'd still fit cork pads in the speaker key, the LH1 vent, the side F# and Eb/Bb keys, LH3 Eb/Bb key, C#/G# key and RH B/F# key as these keys are usually affected most by condensation - mybe cork padding the throat G# and A as well as water can get into these too.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2013-04-11 18:26
Chris, I've written this before but will reiterate (another message from the Department of Redundancy Dept., which as someone pointed out to me recently is just down the hall from the Ministry of Silly Walks):
I've observed that (counterintuitively, maybe) it is those toneholes that are prone to condensation that benefit the most from leather pads, because the leather is slightly porous and absorbs the moisture rather than leaving it in the tonehole to create gurgles. Good cork pads, being totally hermetic, do nothing to mitigate the situation. The downside is that leather pads in the affected toneholes will deteriorate faster from the water they absorb. Personally I'd rather replace a few pads every couple of years than take the chance of an unpleasant gurgle at an embarrassing moment during a concert.
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