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From: "Dave Spiegelthal"
Date: Tue, 15 Jan 2002 18:50:11 -0500
Subject: Re: [CB] Pad fastening to key cups
I use clear silicone glue (also known as silicone seal, RTV, etc.) for repadding
every kind of sax and clarinet ---- holds any style of pad, requires no heat,
allows a few minutes for you to seat the pad, is relatively easy to remove
during future repads ---- I've found NO downside to this approach. Forget the
traditional techniques and try it!
David Spiegelthal
Calverton, VA
http://www.angelfire.com/va/woodwindplayer
---------------------------------------------------------
From: Heliconman
Date: Tue, 15 Jan 2002 19:57:29 EST
Subject: Re: [CB] Pad fastening to key cupsYou mean like GE Silicone 2? Makes sense, I guess! I love the stuff for
sticking things to tile walls. Hangs in real well and peels off easy enough
too! Gonna put a tube in my alto case right now! Thanks for the tip!
"I use clear silicone glue (also known as silicone seal, RTV, etc.) for repadding
every kind of sax and clarinet ---- holds any style of pad, requires no heat,
allows a few minutes for you to seat the pad, is relatively easy to remove
during future repads ---- I've found NO downside to this approach. Forget the
traditional techniques and try it!"
David Spiegelthal
Calverton, VA
spiegelthal.dave@orbital.com
http://www.angelfire.com/va/woodwindplayer
---------------------------------------------------------
From: Fmmck
Date: Wed, 16 Jan 2002 00:00:28 EST
Subject: Re: [CB] Pad fastening to key cups
In a message dated 1/15/02 6:45:23 PM, Spiegelthal.Dave writes:
<< I use clear silicone glue (also known as silicone seal, RTV, etc.) for repadding
every kind of sax and clarinet ---- holds any style of pad, requires no heat,
allows a few minutes for you to seat the pad, is relatively easy to remove
during future repads ---- I've found NO downside to this approach. >>David-
I can't argue with success, but have had bad luck using silicone glue in
other applications. It seems that most common varieties of silicone glue
give off acetic acid as they cure (smells like vinegar). This reacts with
copper, producing a green slime. It may not hurt a Sax or a Clarinet pad
cup, but the slime is conductive and can blow circuit breakers in electrical
applications!There is another variety of silicone glue that the manufacturer claims to be
non-corrosive. It gives off something like alcohol as it cures. The only
problem is it is hard to find. I recently found a tube of GE "Silicone II
Kitchen & Bath", that gives off ammonia according to the label. It doesn't
smell like vinegar and seems to be OK, but the label doesn't specifically say
it is non-corrosive.Fred McKenzie
Titusville, Florida
---------------------------------------------------------From: "Patrick.Scully"
Subject: Re: [CB] High Tech Materials In Woodwind Maintenance
Date: Tue, 15 Jan 2002 22:21:28 -0800David,
Your approach to fastening clarinet pads is entirely too sensible and efficient! ;-}
I had no trouble visualizing two key advantages to the use of silicone
cement in this application: no heat, and ease of removal.Question: is the continued near-universal use of shellac in the seating of
pads a product of "don't fix it if it ain't broke"?Now I'll share one of my own applications of modern materials to woodwind
maintenance: Teflon (PTFE) plumbing tape. I use this tape to make
temporary "field" adjustments of key closing and key height on my saxophone
and contra clarinets, typically by wrapping a lever or actuator by a given
thickness of the tape. The tape, while not an adhesive tape at all, is
extremely thin and flexible and thus adheres well to metal surfaces, much as
Saran (PVC) wrapping film adheres to a glass bowl. PTFE tape also quiets
metal-to-metal clacking and clicking noises, and because it is PTFE, it
makes a superb non-stick/low friction bearing that can lighten keywork
action in comparison with cork strip. The material can also be pilled or
balled. On my alto saxophone, I replaced a silicone bumper temporarily with
a ball of PTFE tape, which I lashed to the bumper seat with a length of the
tape. This "temporary" repair has stayed put through at least 50 hard hours
of play (and the bumper in question sits atop the G# keycup!).Only one drawback to PTFE tape. It is hospital white. One of my "field
regulated" Leblanc contras looks like a Civil War wounded. That's okay.
Last concert, I mounted a battery operated "police" emergency light on the
upper bow joint, following the lead of Don Stevens, who affixed such a
device upon his Buffet contrabass saxophone at a recent Nuclear Whales
concert. Just in case you didn't notice his horn, you see. In my case,
might as well look like an ambulance, if I look like a casualty.Patrick
---------------------------------------------------------
Date: Wed, 16 Jan 2002 01:21:02 -0800
From: Craig Durham
Subject: Re: [CB] Pad fastening to key cupsI had thought about the acetic acid question as well. Still, one
can't argue with success. Dow makes an alcohol-based silicone
that is used in industrial applications. There are silicones that
are specifically designed for bonding to metal - try an auto parts
store.Is that low rumble I hear the collective shudder of purists?
The result of an accident with silicone can be wiped away with
a cloth. The same is hardly true of an accident with a flame.Craig
---------------------------------------------------------
Date: Wed, 16 Jan 2002 08:37:11 -0500
From: "John Webster"
Subject: Re: [CB] High Tech Materials In Woodwind Maintenancei have been carrying one of the relatively new Glue sticks in my case for emergency repair of loose pads. Don't have any idea how long it would hold befor drying out but will certainly get me through a week or more until it can be done correctly. BTW I have previously use plain old Elmers all purpose white glue to reattach loose pads and (I believe) put in some new ones, but I would not expect the durability of a correct installation.
John
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