Monday, December 17, 2012

Rachel Baker

Our Repair Technician, Rachel Baker, welcomes us into her shop every week to help us with this blog.  She answers all of our questions, explains everything thoroughly, and is graciously undisturbed when we snap seemingly endless pictures of her at work.  As the year comes to a close, we would like to send out a HUGE thank you to Rachel for helping us with this blog.  However, we are not the only ones who appreciate Rachel's hard work and dedication.  We often times receive thank you posts to her on our Facebook page and via e-mail.  One customer mailed us such a nice letter that we just had to share.  Take a look below, and help us in thanking Rachel for her amazing work!



















Rachel finishing a kingwood Custom piccolo.
Rachel explaining the alto flute repadding process to us.

Rachel polishing a headjoint.

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Key Engraving - Part II

Last month, we posted on the subject of key engraving -- specifically, that it is best to have it done when you send in your flute for an overhaul.  We recently had the pleasure of meeting with Weiling Zhou, one of our flute finishers and engravers.  He explained the process to us and even engraved part of a key to demonstrate!

Weiling has been engraving for 10 years.  The very first time he engraved s flute, he used a very small screwdriver.  He gave the flute back to the VP of Production here at Powell, Rob Viola, who liked Weiling's work and asked him to do more.  At that point, Weiling felt that he needed to research the engraving process more, so he went straight to the library and checked out several books.  Rob then provided him with an engraving bowl vase (which, by the way, weights 20 pounds!), and he was ready to begin.  He has now acquired about 50 engraving tools, and each tool is used for a different line.

He also has a book of engraving patterns he drew, although he has made many custom designs for people.  Custom patterns can be especially difficult on lip plates due to their complex shape -- on which the pattern must fit!  One of the most popular engraving requests he receives is for bird patterns.  Weiling has several books with photos of birds that he uses for examples and to guide his engraving.  When it comes to birds, Weiling tells us that engraving images of them from the side is easier, and some birds (like the eagle) are very distinctive.  Because engravings do not have color, it may be difficult to tell the difference between a blue jay or cardinal -- so it's best to stick with something simple that looks good in black and white.  Initials are another popular engraving request, which Weiling tells us takes about 10 minutes.  Engraving a key cup takes roughly 40 minutes.

So, how exactly does the process work?  Weiling showed us with the example of a key cup.  He marks lines within the cup to help as guides and then sketches in the shapes or patterns to see, roughly, how they will fit and work best.  The engraving bowl vase can be adjusted to hold headjoints, barrels, and anything he is engraving.  When it comes to a smaller part like a key, the key is first "stuck" to an adapter with a waxy substance known as pitch.  He then takes the appropriate tool for the cut he is going to make and begins.  Because the bowl rotates, it makes it much easier to engrave something round like a key.  Each line is cut with a single stroke, and these lines are engraved in a series to make the pattern.  To engrave texture, he uses more pointed tools and lightly taps them into the metal with a small mallet.

We were quite mesmerized watching Weiling create these patterns and textures all completely by hand.  He did mention that it is best to engrave solid metals because engraving through plating causes rust.  So, if you've wondered whether hand engraving is really done by hand, well, we can see that it is!  If your flute is not plated and you are interested in having engraving done, make sure to contact our Director of Service and Quality, Rebecca Eckles, and she would be happy to help.  She can be reached at reckles@powellflutes.com or by calling (978) 344-5160.

Weiling prepares to engrave...
The adjustable engraving bowl (seen here with a barrel).
Weiling heats some pitch (wax) to hold the key.
Key is now stuck to an adapter for the engraving bowl.
Adjusting engraving bowl with key in place.
Birds are a popular pattern.
Initials are popular as well.
Guidelines on key -- key is held on a block of pitch.
Patterns sketched on key cup.
Cutting the lines of the pattern.
Close-up of the process...
Sample pattern completed for us!
Different tool tapped with mallet for texture.
Pattern with texture!

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

The G Disc

It has several different names, but it all serves the same purpose -- the G disc, G donut, or high E facilitator.  Some flutes have a G disc, some have a split-E mechanism, and some flutes have neither.  We recently saw two Powell flutes in the repair shop with G discs that had different shapes.  The "donut" shape is an older style, and the "crescent" shape is the design that Powell switched to about 20 years ago.  The G disc helps facilitate the high E by limiting the amount of air that comes out of the tone hole -- because the key cup is open when you are playing the high E.  If you have a split-E mechanism, when it is engaged, the mechanism lowers the key cup slightly to help limit the amount of air coming out of the tone hole.  Reducing the amount of air coming through the tone hole via a G-disc or split-E mechanism is often times referred to as "venting" the high E.

As mentioned above, some flutes do not have any additional type of device or mechanism to facilitate the high E, because it is really a matter of the player's preference.  However, if one is in place, your flute would either have a G disc or a split-E mechanism -- not both.  If your flute does not have any type of high E facilitator and you are interested in getting a G disc put in, that is not a problem at all.  The repair shop at Powell can add one to your flute for roughly $70.  We realize there is debate on the G disc.  Many people find it very helpful in venting a high E.  In the case of intonation, some people find that it is an improvement, and others have the opposite view -- yet there are so many additional variables in what can effect intonation, so it all depends on the player and his/her equipment.  If you are interested in having a G disc installed, or if you have any additional questions, feel free to contact Rachel Baker in our repair shop at rbaker@powellflutes.com, and she'd be happy to help!

Red arrow points to older G disc design, yellow arrow points to current design.
Yellow arrow points to key that has a G disc in the tone hole.

With the G disc in place, the yellow arrow points to the open area of the tone hole.