 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Joe
Date: 2002-03-11 17:50
I need to replace the pads on the throat A and Ab keys and the cork on the register key on my Bb clarinet. I've got the pads, cork, and "Kwikset Pad and Cork Cement".
My question concerns the Kwikset: is it intended to be used like contact cement, where mating surfaces are coated and allowed to dry before being put together? If its to be used as regular glue, how long does it take to set up? Or ....... is it better to use French stick cement?
All help appreciated, and thanks for your attention.
Joe.
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Author: jbuter
Date: 2002-03-11 20:15
Joe,
Is your pad and cork cement that brownish/reddish stuff from Micro? If so, it is shellac thinned with denatured alcohol. You need to put it into the pad cup and then put the pad into the cup. Don't use too much or it will "ooze" out all over the place and make a big mess. On the other hand, you want enough in the cup so that there are not any "voids" in the pad cup between the pad and metal cup surface. It does take a while to set up after you've leveled your pads. I'd give it a good 24 hrs to set up enough to begin playing again. You can speed up the process by applying heat to the cup to "boil" out the alcohol. Be careful not to get the cup too hot or the shellac will, once again, "ooze" and make a big mess. Messes can be cleaned with denatured alcohol.
When using it on cork you will need to give it time to dry. I've never used it on cork because I can get a mental image of all this liquid shellac all over the clarinet, pants, floor and everything else. Use a good contact cement instead. Your life will be much easier for it.
John
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Author: Curt
Date: 2002-03-12 05:56
I agreee with John and would like to add:
I don't care for the Pad and Cork, liquid, cement. If you use it with heat, if is very difficult to adjust the pad once the alchol is gone. The shellac pulls the pad in the cup very tightly and does not allow for much adjustment. It is more useful if your intention is to put in the pad then bend the cup. I don't think this is the best idea.
If you let it dry, the pad still gets sucked in and is not very adjustable. You may get lucky but who knows. It is certainly a job to adjust the pad as the shellac is drying and shrinking.
You may just be better off with a piece of hard shellac. It does not shrink and once heated you can adjust pad to your liking. If you need to re-adjust the pad just heat up the cup a little.
We have some small pellets of french cement. You just put the amount of pellets you need in the pad cup and apply a little heat. You may also be sucessful with hot glue.
Curt Altarac
www.MusicMedic.com -Repair Kits w/online support!
Curt@MusicMedic.com
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Author: ron b
Date: 2002-03-12 07:06
Hi, Joe
I think it's great that you want to do your own maintenance. I would encourage anyone so inclined to at least do their own basic maintenance. No one loves your instrument like you do :]
That's the good news. Now...(let 'em have it, Zeb!) -- I think Micro Pad and Cork Cement should be banned from the planet.... BLAM !!!
Take to heart John's and Curt's comments.
Local music stores in this area (central CA) haven't sold it for ages and I don't know of a shop in town that has any on site... for good reasons. It's messy, slow drying, doesn't 'set' pads well and has only fair to poor adhesive qualities. After it sets, it's difficult to rework. Yucky UNco-operative stuff :(
All the local shops (and most sensible do-it-yourselfers) use stick shellac or French cement for padding clarinets and contact cement for key and tenon cork(s).
NOTE: DO NOT use commercial (hardware store) contact cement cleaner/thinner for *thinning* contact cement; it's 'oily' and will kill the cement's adhesive properties. It's okay for cleanup *after* the contact cement has dried. I've found M.E.K. works okay but Ferree's and some other suppliers sell a contact cement thinner that may be better. I got some of Ferree's cork adhesive and thinner last week (coat, dry, stick, trim). I've used it only once so far (sax key cork) and it worked very well.
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Author: Joe
Date: 2002-03-12 13:52
OK!! Many thanks for the input. I'll take your advice to heart and get some French cement, (and do it right the first time). :-)
Joe
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