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Author: rtmyth
Date: 2007-07-15 15:41
I would like to install cork pads, but need instructions. Any sites, articles, etc. please.
richard smith
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Author: skygardener
Date: 2007-07-15 16:31
Ferree's and a few other repair supply outlets sell repair manuals.
I read the one from Ferree's by Eric Brand and that got me a long way.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2007-07-15 18:23
Select the correct diameter cork pad - one that's a good fit in the pad cup, but NOT a tight fit.
You can install them two ways:
The first and most difficult way (but much better long term) is to fit the pad into the pad cup with the right amount of shellac (not using too much shellac as it will ooze out the sides), then once the shellac has cooled you trim and grind the face of the pad down with several grades of pumice (going from coarse through to fine) so it seats perfectly onto the tonehole bedplace, and the finished pad should have an even amount of sidewall showing around the circumference of the pad cup when it's properly seated - checking how it's seating around the entire circumference with a feeler gauge cut from the finest cigarette papers so the drag is felt all around, and slightly heavier (more drag) at the front than at the back when held closed with LIGHT finger pressure.
The second way which is much easier than the first is to grind the face of the pad with several grades of punice until you have a completely flat and smooth surface, then trim the back of the pad with a razor blade until the pad is the correct thickness so when it's put into an empty pad cup there should be an equal amount of sidewall showing. Dome the back of the pad slightly with coarse emery or a coarse file and then install the pad with a good quantity (but again not too much) shellac, and float and level the pad as you would with a skin or leather pad, checking how it's seating with the finest ciggy papers as a feeler gauge. - again, aim for the pad to be marginally heavier at the front than the back when tested with LIGHT finger pressure or spring tension.
Cork pads have very little give in them, so you won't get away with them being wonky - they have to seat immediately when they're closed as pressing harder won't do any good. Always use stick (or flake) shellac to install cork pads with, never use hot glue as used with glue guns.
But it's a pointless excercise seating cork pads onto uneven or imperfect tonehole bedplaces (the area which has been countersunk, the tonehole is the hole through to the bore) - the crown of the bedplace has to be absolutely perfect, and any small imperfections will not be sealed with a cork pad due to their nature being very firm (or any other pad for that matter to some degree), so fill or level out any defective bedplaces BEFORE considering installing cork pads.
And never show a cork pad a flame - they scorch very easily. Be careful when heating the pad cups that you don't accidentally catch the pad in the flame - and this applies with all pads, not just cork pads.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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