sticky pads!

Basics of Flute Playing, Tone Production and Fingerings, Using Metronomes, Scales, Tone, Studies, etc.

Moderators: Classitar, pied_piper, Phineas

Post Reply
icy_flutist
Posts: 7
Joined: Tue Mar 30, 2004 10:21 am

sticky pads!

Post by icy_flutist »

hi... My flute pads are starting to go sticky...any
recommendations?? also, the place where you attach the headjoint to the rest of
the flute is going black...what should i do? [:p]

Cleartone
Posts: 63
Joined: Tue Dec 23, 2003 2:56 pm

sticky pads!

Post by Cleartone »

do your pads make a sticky sound when trying to come back
up or does your keys actually stay down or move slowly?

PiccChic06
Posts: 17
Joined: Sun Mar 07, 2004 11:11 am

sticky pads!

Post by PiccChic06 »

my flute teacher told me to try this for sticky pads...
get cigarette paper. she also recommended end wrap paper for when you get a
perm.
You know folks...

krichards
Posts: 71
Joined: Tue Dec 02, 2003 3:49 pm

sticky pads!

Post by krichards »

The idea with the cigarette paper is to dry the pads and
remove any dirt/oil that may have accumulated. I'm not sure about the dollar
bill idea...unless it's a nice, crisp new one, it would likely add more dirt
than it removes. Most music stores also sell papers specifically for this
purpose...I use these. I'm not sure they are any better, I just had more luck
finding them than cigarette papers. A word caution...don't close the pad on the
paper then drag the paper out. This could damage your pads. Just slide the paper
in, close the pad down on it, lift the pad up, THEN take the paper out. If the
pad is REALLY sticky, some people recommend dragging the paper out ever so
slightly before opening it up again. Don't do this too often though! Hope this
helps!

icy_flutist
Posts: 7
Joined: Tue Mar 30, 2004 10:21 am

sticky pads!

Post by icy_flutist »

thanx everyone...i heard something about cigarette paper
from my flute teacher too...but i dont know where to get it. will tracing paper
work? (clean one)

User avatar
Kim
Posts: 109
Joined: Tue Mar 09, 2004 9:02 am

sticky pads!

Post by Kim »

Hi~ I wanted to agree about not using a dollar bill...most
of the time those are very dirty and you would do more harm than good. The black
on your headjoint tenon is probably only tarnish so there really isn't anything
wrong with it unless it is getting tough to get your headjoint on. You can buy a
tarnish cloth to remove the black stuff or I would bet that a nice flute flute
tech would do it for nothing while you wait. Kim
[color=red] Music is the art of thinking with sounds.[/color]

User avatar
Kim
Posts: 109
Joined: Tue Mar 09, 2004 9:02 am

sticky pads!

Post by Kim »

<<will tracing paper work? (clean one)>> I don't know
about that or not. I guess I would worry that tracing paper may be abrasive. You
can get cigarette papers at most convenience stores but most likely a parent
would have to buy those for you.I wanted to mention also that if you do go with
the cigarette papers make sure that you cut the gummy end off before you use
them. The papers that come with perms would work and you could buy those
yourself at any beauty supply store..I think I have seen them in the health and
beauty dept at major stores too. Kim
[color=red] Music is the art of thinking with sounds.[/color]

Cleartone
Posts: 63
Joined: Tue Dec 23, 2003 2:56 pm

sticky pads!

Post by Cleartone »

Now for the head joint. Is your Head Joint plated or solid
silver? It sounds like maybe the plate is wearing off and if that is so then
unless you want to upgrade to a better flute I wouldn't worry about it. Unless
you want to pay someone to plate it again. If your head joint is solid silver
and just the area where it connects with the main body is blackening then
respond back to me and let me know. It may be that the last repair person just
dipped your head joint in silver to cover up the tarnish. Can you tell me what
kind of head joint you have? What kind of flute do you have?

icy_flutist
Posts: 7
Joined: Tue Mar 30, 2004 10:21 am

sticky pads!

Post by icy_flutist »

thanks...the pads just make this sticky sound when i press
on it, but it comes back up. also, (sheepish face) i think my flute is plated,
but im not sure. its okay though, since its not that bad and i can ask my flute
teacher. thanks anyway everyone! [:bigsmile:] [:bigsmile:]

User avatar
SaraBeth
Posts: 39
Joined: Sat May 29, 2004 8:33 pm
Location: nedrow, NY
Contact:

sticky pads!

Post by SaraBeth »

for the mouth piece problem, you should polish it with a
silver polish and it should clean up quite nicely
SaraElizabeth
"I would have to be sick or physically unable, to not play the flute."
"You can
take away my freedom, but you can't take away my music."

User avatar
Kim
Posts: 109
Joined: Tue Mar 09, 2004 9:02 am

sticky pads!

Post by Kim »

On 5/29/2004 10:41:22 PM for the mouth piece problem, you
should polish it with a silver polish and it should clean up quite nicely Hi~ I
would not use silver polish on any part of my flute. It can be abrasive and if
you were to use it on the body of your flute it can get on the pads and in the
mechanism. They do make polishing cloths that work well if used on occasionally
but usually just a plain soft cloth is best. Kim
[color=red] Music is the art of thinking with sounds.[/color]

User avatar
Fluteorama
Posts: 7
Joined: Sun Jun 25, 2006 7:01 am
Location: Wolverhampton

Sticky Pads

Post by Fluteorama »

Hi,

Sticky pads are very common among Flautists. They are caused by dust or dirt in the air which sticks to the pads which causes them to make a sticky-noise when pressed or lifted. When a Flautist eat or drinks sugary things; it can also contribute towards sticky pads.

I must say that the way to clean the pads is not to get 'dry cigarette papers' and to pull it out from the key when it is closed. Any sort of dry paper acts like sandpaper on Flute pads and it soon causes them to fray. But, you do use cigarette papers to clean them, but you will also need to use some 'Lighter Fluid', which you can usually get from a newsagents.

Here is a cleaning method:
1.) Put 2 drops of Lighter Fluid onto the cigarette paper, put it in between the tone hole and press the key onto the paper for about 10 seconds.

2.) Open the key and re-arrange the paper in a different position and repeat for 10 seconds.

3.) Take the paper and blow on it to evaporate any remaining fluid, and then place back under the key, to blot up any excess fluid.

As for cleaning the headjoint, don't use any silver related product as it can damage the Flute. Just use an absorbent cloth to wipe away the dirt. If it is so bad, then it's worth taking it to be seen by a professional repairer.

Post Reply