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Re: Pad Repair Advice

Author: Richard Starkly
Date: 2021-11-01 19:10

Thanks for all these replies!

And apologies for missing them until now, I assumed I'd get a notification when anyone replied. (Just seen the box when I went to post this, oops! Clicked it this time.)

I'm not sure I've been entirely clear which paid I'm talking about. It's not any of the pads which seal the clarinet's holes. It's the pad underneath the key which transforms a standard register D into an Eb. There is no cup, it sticks directly to the metal on the underside of the key. The pad doesn't need replacing, it just needs to stay in position. When I posted originally it had fallen off two or three times over a month, each time it was easy enough to stick back on to the residue remaining on the underside of the key, but also each time it was a little bit less secure. It's about 3.5mm thick, when it falls off the key when depressed crashes into the joint below. Since my last post it's gotten gradually worse to the point where yesterday it fell off two or three times in half an hour. There is still some residue! But not quite enough.

I understand the concerns of everyone who's suggested I take it to a pro. I am under no illusions about the depth of my knowledge, as a learner it's more than enough of a challenge for me getting the standard of my playing up without worrying about trying to get my head around clarinet repair.

The car tyre analogy is interesting. I don't drive, but I do cycle and I'm as useless a bike mechanic as I imagine I would be a clarinet tech. But I do change my own tyres and inner-tubes and brake pads, because I'm on a budget and it makes sense to save where I can. I know when I'm out of my depth and risking the false economy of a botched repair and expensive rescue job.

So... I have absolutely no doubt that all this pad needs is a spot of glue or about my ability to put the pad back, but my local hardware store has at least six types of glue. And I am concerned about any residue that might be difficult to remove in future or anything that might damage the surface of the key, even though obviously it's in a place where that's not going to make any cosmetic difference! I'm encouraged by the response that pretty much any glue would do... but still slightly nervous on those specific points.

Post Edited (2021-11-01 19:14)

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