Flute Maintenance

powayflute01 · Post by **powayflute01** » Thu Feb 26, 2004 4:03 pm

Hello~ I was searching on the internet for ways to
clean a flute properly, and I came across a website
(http://www.theconcertband.com/woodwinds_maintenance.htm) that said you can
clean your head joint with "warm, soapy water". Because I know that washing the
body of the flute is obviously NOT a good idea, is there any way this would
damage the head joint? Would it do something to the cork or is this a completely
safe method of cleaning the head joint? (Basically, would you do it to your
flute?) Also, I would really love to learn how to disassemble/reassemble a flute
to clean and learn how it works better. Does anyone know of any good websites or
books that explain instrument repair/assembly/anatomy well? (particularly for
flutes, but any instrument would be good.) Thanks![:)]

embum79 · Post by **embum79** » Thu Feb 26, 2004 5:34 pm

I would never EVER clean my flute headjoint with soap
and water. The only thing I do is clean it out each time with a cloth, and
lightly rub off the finger marks. I would be very cautious about disassembling
your flute yourself, unless you wanted to take a course or something. If I need
to do any major repairs or maintenence, it goes right to a professional. I would
just hate to screw something up and then really have to pay.

powayflute01 · Post by **powayflute01** » Thu Feb 26, 2004 8:45 pm

Well, usually I rely on professionals to repair my
instrument because of course I would hate to screw my flute up and then have no
idea how to fix it, but I thought it would be sort of a fun project to buy a
really cheap used student flute and take it apart. But yeah, I definitely
wouldn't do it to to my good flute.