Ironing Pads

We all know that ironing takes out wrinkles in clothing and other fabrics, but did you know that ironing can also take out wrinkles in flute pads?  It's not possible to iron pads with a traditional household iron, but there is definitely a pad ironing tool and a procedure for doing this properly.  We had the chance to catch up with Repair Technician, Rachel Baker, to find out more.

Rachel told us that felt pads are most likely to wrinkle, and it is a new felt pad that is particularly vulnerable.  Why is this?  Well, with a new felt pad, pressure is exerted on the pad once the washer and screw are in place. As the screw is tightened, the washer pushes down on the pad, which can then cause the area of the pad around the washer to wrinkle.  Wrinkles can be problematic when flute finishers and repairmen are using a feeler gauge to check for leaking pads.  The wrinkle itself may pull on the gauge when the key cup is closed, which ordinarily would mean the pad is sealing.  However, this is a "false gauging" because once the wrinkle is smoothed out by ironing, the feeler gauge may pull through, detecting that there is a leak. 

So, how does one iron a pad?  Surprisingly, the process follows the same basic principles as ironing fabrics.  The pad iron is a small, flat hand-held tool as you will see in the photos below.  It is dipped into a bit of water and then used to lightly dampen the pad.  The pad iron is then heated just a bit (and very very carefully) with an alcohol lamp.  If the iron is too hot, it can actually burn the pad, so heating the iron properly is key.  After the iron is heated, it is applied to the pad.  We watched as Rachel "swiped" it in a circle over the pad.  Then, you are done!  The wrinkles are gone, and the pad is smooth!

Wrinkled pad.

The pad iron and a small glass of water.  Iron will be dipped in water to dampen the pad.

Dampening the pad with the pad iron.

Heating the pad iron carefully.

Ironing out the wrinkles.

Done!  Pad is smooth again!

Repair or Replace: Pads

We thought it might be interesting to look at a few components of the flute over a series of posts and examine whether they get repaired or replaced when a flute is sent to the repair shop.  Of course, we stopped in to see Powell's Repair Technician, Rachel Baker, to help us begin this series.  We wanted to start with pads, so we asked, "When a flute comes in, do you repair or replace the pads?"

Well, in the case of pads it's an either/or situation.  Pads can be "repaired" or replaced.  What would constitute a pad "repair?"  Shimming!  Rachel says that the type of repair most commonly done with pads is shimming.  Shimming is done to correct leaking pads.  When it comes to replacing pads, there could be a couple of things that would lead to this solution.  Obviously, if a pad is torn, it needs to be replaced.  Also, like anything else, pads age over time.  As they age, the skin on the pad can get brittle, and the pad would need to be replaced.  Brittle skin is more likely to tear, which (as we know) is certainly cause for pad replacement!

When it comes to pads, a "matching set" is very important as well.  Felt pads and Straubinger pads have different compression rates, so it is important to make sure that all the pads are the same type (or rather, "match") on the flute.  You don't want to mix the pads and have a few felt here and there and then a few Straubinger.  Definitely not a good thing.  If a flute comes across Rachel's bench and has "unmatched pads," well, some of the pads would need to be replaced.

So, in the case of pads, they may need to be repaired, or they may need to be replaced.  Visual inspections, play tests, and checks with the feeler gauge can all help determine whether the pad should be "repaired" or replaced.

This pad's edge has been "lifted up" and definitely needed to be replaced.

This flute has matching pads and is good to go!