 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: BbMajorBoy
Date: 2014-07-13 18:55
I just got leather pads fitted to my lower joint. I once read somewhere that you need to put furniture polish on them regularly to keep them supple. Is this true?
Leonard Bernstein: "To achieve great things, two things are needed; a plan, and not quite enough time."
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Author: BobD
Date: 2014-07-13 19:54
I wouldn't put anything labeled simply as furniture polish on them. I might consider some kind of leather preservative.
Bob Draznik
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Author: BartHx
Date: 2014-07-13 20:10
Before I put Roo pads on my clarinet, I read that you should use Old English furniture polish on a paper towel to treat the pads. Nobody here was able to verify that information, so I am giving it a try. Unfortunately, it has not yet been long enough that I can report the results of my experiment other than a light coating seems to soak into the leather and the pads do not get sticky.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2014-07-13 20:30
I was given the advice from Emilio Lyons of Rayburn Music (Boston) to use "Old English" furniture polish on the leather pads that he installed on my Wurlitzers. The idea being that it will prevent them from drying out (which WILL occur with constant exposure to condensation).
He recommends taking a strip of ordinary paper (notebook, printer etc), getting it damp with the furniture polish and just running it under each pad once in a quick swipe. He recommended doing this at least once a month. Since this takes such a short amount of time and effort, I see no good reason not to do this.
............Paul Aviles
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Author: BartHx
Date: 2014-07-13 21:32
I stand corrected. It is a piece of typing paper, not a paper towel. Paul had described exactly what I had read. I'll claim a senior moment.
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Author: BbMajorBoy
Date: 2014-07-13 23:41
Ok I'll do that. Thanks guys.
Leonard Bernstein: "To achieve great things, two things are needed; a plan, and not quite enough time."
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Author: BobD
Date: 2014-07-14 01:03
I wonder if Renaisannce Wax , a newer product than Old English, would be appropriate.
Bob Draznik
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Author: BartHx
Date: 2014-07-14 07:41
"Old English" is a liquid and, soaked into a piece of typing paper, would apply a very light coat. "Renaisannce Wax", while a great product, is paste and would be difficult to control the amount applied without removing the keys.
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Author: Clarineteer
Date: 2014-07-14 12:37
I used a silicone pad conditioner and found that caused the pads to become sticky and clicky shortly after use.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2014-07-14 14:30
If the leather pads you've had fitted are made with plastic coated leather, then you don't need to do anything to them as they're waterproof.
You can check this easily by touching the side of the pad with a wet cotton bud (Q-tip for those in the US) and if the leather remains the same colour (color for those in the US), then the leather has been treated. If the leather darkens where you've touched it with the cotton bud, then the leather hasn't got the plastic waterproof coating.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: cyclopathic
Date: 2014-07-14 15:50
Mink oil works great, I have used it to soften/revitalize leather pads on vintage saxes. It is sold/marketed for conditioning/waterproofing leather shoes
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Author: BobD
Date: 2014-07-14 15:56
I believe I could manage to use Renaissance wax sparingly.
Bob Draznik
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Author: Steven Ocone
Date: 2014-07-14 23:17
This is an example of old information. Most modern pads are already treated and air tight. Some bassoon pads are still slightly porous and I avoid them. If I have to seal them I use silicone caulking material with Teflon powder coating to prevent stickiness.
Steve Ocone
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2014-07-15 00:58
I've been installing and playing on leather pads for several decades and have never treated them with anything. Just keep the bore dry (swab after each playing) and the pads will take care of themselves.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2014-07-15 01:12
I've never used any kind of wax or oil treatment on sax pads during servicing which I see more of compared to clarinets (and I don't use said treatments on leather clarinet or oboe pads either) - only cleaning them with either water or alcohol depending on what kind of dirt is on them (water for organic matter and alcohol for oil based contamination).
Plastic coated pads require no further treatment apart from cleaning dirt and grease off them during a service.
Plastic coated leather pads will tend to stick to toneholes far more than leather without any plastic waterproof coating.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: BbMajorBoy
Date: 2014-07-15 01:56
Thank you all guys. I think I'll give any treating a miss.
Leonard Bernstein: "To achieve great things, two things are needed; a plan, and not quite enough time."
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Author: afmdoclaw
Date: 2014-07-27 04:32
Sticky pad? Clean with lighter fluid -- no oil
Warning--- beware lighter fluid is flammable
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