Repair and maintenance of band instruments – Flute repair – Regulating and balancing the keys and pads

To produce a perfect tone, the wooden flute for sale keys must be sealed against air leakage by closing exactly on the tone hole. This is possible only if the key is straight, the tone hole is parallel and the pad does not have any creases or holes.

By correctly placing the pads, and then gently bending the keys, you can ensure that the seal is perfect. There are several ways to test the seal. One way to check the seal is to use a strip or cigarette paper. The paper should be placed between the pad’s rim, and then closed the key to test if it slips out or is still there. If it falls out, you can lose sound and volume. I use a jeweler’s loop to examine the hole. This is because I can see through the magnification better and find it faster.

At first, it was quite scary to bend the keys in order to get them level. The instrument you are working on is $300.00 or higher. Now, you have a pair if flute pliers at your disposal and need to bend the key in order to ensure it fits correctly over the hole. Yes, sometimes you break the keys. Although this can seem very alarming at first, once you realize that the keys are meant to be repaired, it becomes less of a problem. When you realize that each piece of the flute had been assembled and soldered together you will be able to fix any problem. We have been able to recover flutes that were stepped on or sat on and jammed in doors.

So we have removed all bends. That’s a science in itself. We made sure that all springs were properly tensioned and intact. We have replaced all pads and checked their integrity. We then bent and leveled each key and its pad over the tone holes in order to get the best seal.

We then clamp the keys to seal the pad. This is done by using a small, flat iron to smoothen any wrinkles on any new pads. Then soak the pads in alcohol. This is just one method. You will need to attach the individual key clamps. Place the flute in the oven for a few more hours. The size and shape of the pad ovens can vary. I use an extremely narrow leak light. I put the flute in it and then I place it inside a wooden box. Some people do not use an oven.

Once you have achieved a perfect seal, the flute will continue to play flawlessly. Volume will be excellent with no hissing and leaks.