 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: bp (F)
Date: 2003-11-07 12:08
I often have to complain with my pads that are sticking, making noise.
I use powder paper but I would like to avoid it.
Are they leather pads that don't stick? Or is it better for me to use traditionnal pads? or maybe cork pads?
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Author: jez
Date: 2003-11-07 13:53
I've always found leather sticky, but thought that powder made it worse. Better to clean thoroughly with lighter fuel or something.
If you want to avoid any chance of stickiness try superpads
www.woodwindco.com
jez
Post Edited (2003-11-07 13:53)
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2003-11-07 14:49
I often "pull" a dry handkerchief between the pad and its seat, if too much "peanut butter and jelly" is deposited, I dampen-wet the cloth. Dollar bills[clean?] have a good rep. as cleaners. I might use a hydrocarbon solvent [charcoal-lighter fuel] as a last resort. Don
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2003-11-08 19:52
It may be heretical, but I treat the leather pads on my horns like any other leather I use... I clean it with a Q-tip and hand lotion.
The G# key, I try to prop open until the lotion dries.
As for sprinkling magic pixie dust, I have better ways to blow money.
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2003-11-08 23:17
Perhaps the stickiness has a fair bit to do with:
1. The tariness of the particular die (surface blemish hider) that the manufacturer uses on the timber surface.
2. The particular oil treatment of the timber.
3. For leather, the stickiness of any water/air-proofing (or the tanning treatment itself), or subsequent treatment by the user. Sax players are currently complaining a lot about the stickiness of SOME pads that have been waterproofed. If a pad is sticky on a sax, then it is likely to be far stickier on a clarinet, where there is a larger tone hole contact area for any given tone hole size.
4. I have seldom encountered a persistent problem with sticky bladder pads. I think the stickiness may vary from different pad makers.
BTW, many leather treatments leave a slight stickiness.
Many oils (especially plant-derived ones) gradually polymerise and become sticky.
Powder papers do not remove a sticky agent, but may well stop its surface from being sticky.
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Author: Mark Pinner
Date: 2003-11-10 04:15
If the pads are cleaned properly by a technician and the springs are tightened it should cure the problem. In my experience sticking leather and bassoon pads, ie. on a wooden instrument occurs most often in humid climates and with instruments that are played in and out of air conditioning. Pads can be cleaned quite successfully using a light oil such as eucalyptus oil, quite a common thing here in Australia which does not leave a sticky residue or polymerise. Lighter fuel will also do the trick. You can also help by keeping the wood well oiled. Generally the pads are stuck when you first assemble the horn so check that they all open before you start playing. Leather pads are the traditional type, all the others are later inventions. I have never heard complaints about leather pads being noisy, cork yes but leather never. Any pad will stick under adverse circumstances. As usual Gordon's observations are spot on. There has been a tendency by some saxophone manufacturers to use 'water proof pads'. These are prone to sticking and are anything but water proof. They evidently use some sort of silicone waterproofing. Saxes that cause particular problems in this regard are Yanigasawa and Keilwerth. On the Yani's it is the G# key and palm keys that are most effected. On the Keilwerths it is the legendary low C# problem where changing the pad is the easiest solution, any bona fide repairer will know where I am coming from.
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