The Clarinet BBoard

The Clarinet BBoard The C4 standard

New Topic | Go to Top | Go to Topic | Search | Help/Rules | Smileys/Notes | Log In

Previous Message | Next Message

Re: Re setting pads.

Author: clarnibass
Date: 2022-11-27 10:19

>> But you also have to REPLACE the pad. You cannot "re-seat" an old pad (it already has a crease that had set to a very specific depth and angle based on spring tension and age). <<

As jdbassplayer wrote, sometimes you do this and it does work. Probably less than 5% of the time, likely even less (I never gathered statistics...), which is why it's often not even worth trying... but sometimes it is and it works. Though there are a few more common reasons for why it doesn't work than the one you mentioned.

>> With some practice it is very easy to get precise with a torch. I’ve only ever burned a clarinet body when I was first starting, and fortunately I started learning repairs on already junk instruments from eBay. <<

I guess you could burn a clarinet body with a flame but it's rare. I've done my first ever clarinet repad on a plastic Eb clarinet using mostly my home stove, with no burning or melting the body. It's much more likely to burn (or melt) the pad itself, which also rarely happens with experience, but more of a problem with less experience and if you don't have an extra one...

>> Anything metal you place against the pad cup has the potential to scratch and silver especially is very easy to mark with the tip of a soldering iron. <<

The Votaw tool tips are made of graphite. I wouldn't use a regular soldering iron (one tip) mainly because it's so slow, but a soldering gun can be used like m1964 described. One advantage over the Votaw tool is you can open the tips more (the Votaw tool is a little limited in that) and you can use the polished sides of the round tips (or polish them more). You can also try wrapping with aluminium foil. This (the Votaw or a split tip gun) is also much faster.

FWIW I have pretty much all the tools mentioned (many flame tools, the Votaw tool, soldering gun and iron, hot air tools). For soprano clarinets, I use mainly a flame to melt the glue in the cup, and mainly the Votaw tool and occasionally an air tool if I need to adjust a pad while the key is assembled.

Reply To Message | Avail. Forums | Flat View

Newer Topic | Older Topic

Topics