Red Wing Instrument Repair Blog

[fluteguy18]

As most of you know I am going through the Instrument Repair program this school year. Rather than post haphazardly across the forum with updates on my progress, I thought I would post information here to redirect people to my blog. This way it can stay organized and in one place for those who are interested. If you're not interested, by all means... ignore this thread, but I will be posting here repeatedly.

I have posted several new entries about my first week including things regarding my move to Minnesota and some other adventures I have had since then (Mall of America, Stoney End Harp Co. etc.). Please keep in mind however that this is also a blog for my friends and family 'back home' to follow, so it's not a professional portfolio. I am organizing one of those online separately. In this blog you get to see me in all of my imperfect glory, mistakes, crazy quirks and all.

http://www.aclassicaljourney.blogspot.com

As they say in Kentucky, 'I hope y'all enjoy!'

[mirwa]

Are you having to reside near the school or are you travelling from home

[fluteguy18]

Home for me is in Kentucky and the school is in Minnesota- almost 12 hours by car! I got an apartment in the historic district downtown. It's not on the campus (because they don't have dorms or provide housing of any kind), but it's less than 5 minutes from my apartment. I have a blog post about it in July.

[mirwa]

As you progress on the course, try and find some local shops that you can do some work for (work experience), re-inforce your skills as you learn them.

The course is to teach you an established way of doing something. Its up to you to then develop this further, in our industry repetition is the key.

[fluteguy18]

Mirwa: Been working on that.

UPDATES:

Seven new blog posts! Creepy animals in Rain Forest Cafe, playing with fire, playing with a lathe, BLOWING SPIT BALLS THROUGH A TRUMPET, and the birth of a new trumpet prodigy: me.

I'm having TOO much fun I think. Video included. Lots of video.

[flutego12]

Hi Adam
Looks like you're having a swell time at Red Wing!
Love the blog. Life got busy hence did not check forum till now.
I'm keeping my eyes peeled, ears and antenna open for your coverage on the flute and clarinet - in particular... meanwhile they are just half open.

Looks like your weekends well spent Art galleries, museums and antique auctions are my thang... even if armchair travelling.

I've been getting a little distracted lately with bargain hunting CHEAP old antique pieces, been very inspired by a string instrument centre in the shire which looked very baroque/ classical with wooden floors and wonderful antique wood display cabinets, amoires and architectural drawers....and been bidding old throwaways online to set something up in the garage. Something akin ye olde organic workshop. Hence haven't been at fluteland. Will certainly be watching your blog!

Thanks for sharing.

[Zevang]

Fluteguy, congrats! Wish you the most out of this experience!

But pleeeease! Be very, super, dupper, hyper careful when learning to use a lathe. They are wonderful tools, but can be VERY dangerous!

[mirwa]

Very true zevang

A good friend of mine who actually teaches lathe in woodworking classes, lost his thumb this year on the lathe, a split second and his thumb was torn from his hand, he didn't even realise it was gone to start with

They deserve respect.

[pied_piper]

Yes, and I recommend similar cautions with the bench motor especially with long rods chucked in. If the rod sticks out too far, it can suddenly bend from the centrifugal force and that rod can give you a good whipping - quite literally and with similarly bad results...

[fluteguy18]

The second day of classes they warned us (and showed us) the danger of bench motors and lathes. They have a video of one student that got his shoe lace stuck in the chuck of the lathe when it turned on. It was stupidity of course, but it pulled him OVER the lathe and twisted his leg up and around the lathe. He was very fortunate he hit the emergency stop immediately (before it pulled him over), and he wasn't injured. We would have easily lost his foot.

We were also given the opportunity to see what happens when something sticks out too far. One guy once caused over $2k USD damage to a $10k lathe. The instructors are EXTREMELY adamant about safety regarding the equipment and repeatedly quiz us at random.

My lathe had a malfunction the first time I used it. The 'off' switch didn't work. So I stomped the emergency brake. Still didn't work. So I turned the machine off (master power button). It still didn't turn off or slow down. VERY scary. They got it fixed, but I don't trust it.

[fluteguy18]

I will be updating my blog again very soon. I just started a new job, and between work and school I've been very very busy.

LOTS coming!

[cflutist]

When do you get to start working on flutes?

[pied_piper]

They require him to practice techniques first on junk brass before they'll let him work on a real instrument like a flute.

[cflutist]

I've got two clunkers that maybe we should play with.
1 - my sister's Armstrong 104 (all 3 of us kids played the flute), it has moth eaten pads,
2 - a Dexter flute that was sold to my unknowing hubby on eBay as a "professional" flute because the HJ had a sleeve. He was trying to surprise me with a flute to go camping with as my Haynes at the time was too nice. Well, that was the first and last flute he bought me from eBay. I ended up buying a Gemmy 3KSB (solid silver body, gold springs, plated keys) to take camping.

[fluteguy18]

Tonight I uploaded three new posts. Topics covered: bracing, soldering, and buffing.

A LOT more to come. Topics yet to cover: lathe work, burnishing, stuck parts, dent tool manufacturing, silver soldering success, a disastrous project trumpet, dent work, goblins, shoes for giants, and kitty litter cake.

Link below in my signature.