Emergency Instrument Solutions and “What Not to Repair” By Keren & Michael Barr North Georgia Band Instrument Service

General Do’s and Don’t’s DO Use zip ties, twist ties, fabric-covered hair bands, string or teflon tape to hold and instrument or key together DO Use zip ties, twist ties, fabric-covered hair bands, string or teflon tape to hold and instrument or key together DO use paper to shim tenons, sockets or neck corks DO use paper to shim tenons, sockets or neck corks DO use a “Bobcat” style mouthpiece puller for stuck mouthpieces DO use a “Bobcat” style mouthpiece puller for stuck mouthpieces DO use instrument-grade penetrating oil and mild heat from a hand torch to remove a stuck tuning slide DO use instrument-grade penetrating oil and mild heat from a hand torch to remove a stuck tuning slide

General Do’s and Don’t’s DON’T use tape or rubber bands to hold a damaged key, broken solder joint, or other part together DON’T use tape or rubber bands to hold a damaged key, broken solder joint, or other part together DON’T use super glue of any kind to repair any part of an instrument DON’T use super glue of any kind to repair any part of an instrument DON’T turn adjustment screws DON’T turn adjustment screws DON’T use a screwdriver to drive out a stuck valve DON’T use a screwdriver to drive out a stuck valve

General Do’s and Don’t’s DON’T use a screwdriver to drive out a rotary valve DON’T use a screwdriver to drive out a rotary valve DON’T use pliers or vice-grips to remove stuck parts DON’T use pliers or vice-grips to remove stuck parts DON’T use a towel, rag, sock, shoelace, or any other kind of implement to remove a stuck tuning slide DON’T use a towel, rag, sock, shoelace, or any other kind of implement to remove a stuck tuning slide DON’T use a currency bill to relieve stuck pads DON’T use a currency bill to relieve stuck pads

General Woodwind Emergencies Lost pivot screw - insert a toothpick through the post and in to the key, break off the toothpick point Lost pivot screw - insert a toothpick through the post and in to the key, break off the toothpick point

General Woodwind Emergencies Torn bladder pad skin - wrap a piece of teflon tape or plastic food wrap around the key and pad Torn bladder pad skin - wrap a piece of teflon tape or plastic food wrap around the key and pad Torn leather or kid pad skin – place a small piece of electrical or masking tape over the tear Torn leather or kid pad skin – place a small piece of electrical or masking tape over the tear –Alternatively a small piece of pad leather can be adhered to the pad surface with contact cement

Flute and Piccolo Emergencies Loose tenon or socket – shim with clean paper Loose tenon or socket – shim with clean paper Leaking head cork – tighten the plate Leaking head cork – tighten the plate

Flute and Piccolo Emergencies If notes are not sounding properly check trill key springs for proper position If notes are not sounding properly check trill key springs for proper position

Send to the shop if… Either tenon is out of round Either tenon is out of round Pads are missing Pads are missing –The trill keys and C key pads can be replaced with glue Keys are binding Keys are binding

Clarinet and Oboe Emergencies Broken, cracked or missing tenon cork – use waxed dental floss to wrap around the tenon Broken, cracked or missing tenon cork – use waxed dental floss to wrap around the tenon Lower register will not play – Check that the throat Ab key is not being held open by its adjustment screw Lower register will not play – Check that the throat Ab key is not being held open by its adjustment screw

Send to the shop if… A tenon or socket is broken or cracked A tenon or socket is broken or cracked The body is cracked The body is cracked Keys are binding Keys are binding Socket rings are loose Socket rings are loose Tenon / Socket connections are loose or “wobble” Tenon / Socket connections are loose or “wobble”

Saxophone Emergencies Missing guard screws – replace with zip ties or twist ties Missing guard screws – replace with zip ties or twist ties Loose neck tenon – shim with paper Loose neck tenon – shim with paper Missing neck cork – replace with Valentino self-adhesive neck cork Missing neck cork – replace with Valentino self-adhesive neck cork Instrument will not play in lower register or right hand stack – check octave mechanism adjustment Instrument will not play in lower register or right hand stack – check octave mechanism adjustment

Send to the shop if… Keys are binding Keys are binding Guards are bent or unsoldered Guards are bent or unsoldered Bell is loose Bell is loose

General Brass Emergencies Stuck slides – use instrument-grade penetrating oil and GENTLY heat with a hand torch Stuck slides – use instrument-grade penetrating oil and GENTLY heat with a hand torch –Keep the heat moving at all times! Dented or out-of-round mouthpiece shanks - place the mouthpiece on an arbor and lightly tap with a small rawhide hammer Dented or out-of-round mouthpiece shanks - place the mouthpiece on an arbor and lightly tap with a small rawhide hammer

General Brass Emergencies Missing waterkey cork – replace with Valentino self-adhesive cork or rub down a pencil eraser to fit in the cup Missing waterkey cork – replace with Valentino self-adhesive cork or rub down a pencil eraser to fit in the cup Missing waterkey – rub down a pencil eraser to a point and push it in to the hole Missing waterkey – rub down a pencil eraser to a point and push it in to the hole –This has the added benefit of being removable to release water –A pencil tip can also be used for this

Piston Brass Emergencies Trumpet 2 nd valve sticking – GENTLY flex the 2 nd slide forward (toward the bell) Trumpet 2 nd valve sticking – GENTLY flex the 2 nd slide forward (toward the bell) DO NOT EVER try to remove a stuck piston with a screwdriver, another valve or other implement – PISTONS ARE HOLLOW! DO NOT EVER try to remove a stuck piston with a screwdriver, another valve or other implement – PISTONS ARE HOLLOW! –Use a brand-specific valve driver and a small rawhide hammer for removing stuck pistons

Send to the shop if… Valves are frozen Valves are frozen Slides will not move after oil and heat Slides will not move after oil and heat Casing threads are damaged Casing threads are damaged Brass is cracked or punctured Brass is cracked or punctured An object is stuck in the bore An object is stuck in the bore

Rotary Brass Emergencies Learn to replace strings quickly Learn to replace strings quickly Understand how linkage systems work and have spare parts on hand Understand how linkage systems work and have spare parts on hand

Stringing Rotary Valves

Send to the shop if… Rotors are frozen Rotors are frozen There is end play present in the rotor assembly There is end play present in the rotor assembly The rotor spindle is bent The rotor spindle is bent Part is missing Part is missing

Trombone Emergencies Handslide taper is stuck in bell section – use penetrating oil and light heat on the area. Let sit for minutes and try to remove Handslide taper is stuck in bell section – use penetrating oil and light heat on the area. Let sit for minutes and try to remove

Send to the shop if… Slide assembly is stuck in bell section Slide assembly is stuck in bell section Handslide is dented or bent Handslide is dented or bent Handslide is rough or noisy Handslide is rough or noisy

Pad Tips Sticky pads - clean ONLY with cleaning paper or clean cigarette paper Sticky pads - clean ONLY with cleaning paper or clean cigarette paper –DO NOT use fluids or paper currency

If a pad falls out… Check condition of pad Check condition of pad Check for glue on the back of the pad and in the cup Check for glue on the back of the pad and in the cup Add a SMALL amount of hot-melt glue if necessary Add a SMALL amount of hot-melt glue if necessary Re-insert pad in to a cup and close LIGHTLY Re-insert pad in to a cup and close LIGHTLY Apply GENTLE heat to pad cup – DO NOT over heat the glue Apply GENTLE heat to pad cup – DO NOT over heat the glue –If the pad cup discolors or smoke appears, there is too much heat! DO NOT “smash” the key closed DO NOT “smash” the key closed ALWAYS WATCH THE DIRECTION OF THE FLAME! ALWAYS WATCH THE DIRECTION OF THE FLAME!

Glue For replacing pads and bumper felts use standard hot-melt glue for hot glue guns For replacing pads and bumper felts use standard hot-melt glue for hot glue guns Use contact cement or self-adhesive cork for replacing key corks Use contact cement or self-adhesive cork for replacing key corks

Proper usage of Contact Cement Apply cement to BOTH parts Apply cement to BOTH parts Wait 10 minutes for glue to dry Wait 10 minutes for glue to dry Use moderate pressure to press the two parts together Use moderate pressure to press the two parts together

More on glue.. DO NOT use super glue of ANY KIND on ANY part of the body of an instrument OR to replace a pad DO NOT use super glue of ANY KIND on ANY part of the body of an instrument OR to replace a pad DO NOT “improvise” on glues (Elmer’s, wood glues, epoxies, Gorilla Glue, etc.) DO NOT “improvise” on glues (Elmer’s, wood glues, epoxies, Gorilla Glue, etc.)

What not to repair DO NOT attempt to solder a broken joint DO NOT attempt to solder a broken joint DO NOT use super glue for any repair DO NOT use super glue for any repair DO NOT use tape or rubber bands on any parts of the finish of an instrument DO NOT use tape or rubber bands on any parts of the finish of an instrument DO NOT attempt to remove dents DO NOT attempt to remove dents

Tools and Supplies Keep a small repair kit for emergencies Keep a small repair kit for emergencies Stock a few supplies Stock a few supplies Consider Valentino products Consider Valentino products –Precut self-adhesive key, tenon and neck corks –Brand-specific valve felts –Self-adhesive pads and waterkey corks

Consider the liability.. Always use EXTREME CAUTION when attempting ANY repair! Always use EXTREME CAUTION when attempting ANY repair! Liability MUST be considered when working on a student’s instrument Liability MUST be considered when working on a student’s instrument Do not attempt any repair that you are not comfortable with Do not attempt any repair that you are not comfortable with Become a master at emergency repairs! Become a master at emergency repairs! SAFETY FIRST ALWAYS! SAFETY FIRST ALWAYS!