cleaning pads with alcohol
Moderators: Classitar, pied_piper, Phineas
cleaning pads with alcohol
my old band teacher told me that i can clean my pads with rubbing alcohol. since im going to "band camp" in a couple weeks, i dont want to do anything to ruin them. is it a good idea?
Re: cleaning pads with alcohol
I was told by my repair tech that cleaning pads with alcohol was a bad idea and not to do it.
Kim
Kim
You can clean pads with alcohol (ethanol, or isopropyl). Alcohol is not so harsh that it will damage the pad skin, like acetone, but it evaporates faster than water, so you don't have to worry about it soaking into the pad. Pad skins are made from delicate natural material, so you have to be careful not to tear them.
Do your pads need clearning though? To really clean the pads, the keys should be removed from the body, which be done by some one with repair skills. Otherwise, just use cigarette paper (or any other un-powdered pad paper). You can dampen a bit of the paper with alcohol and press the key down on it several times. Don't get too worried about cleaning your pads though, some stickiness does not always mean they need to be cleaned--if you take care of the flute they shouldn't really ever need cleaning.
Hope that helps some..
Do your pads need clearning though? To really clean the pads, the keys should be removed from the body, which be done by some one with repair skills. Otherwise, just use cigarette paper (or any other un-powdered pad paper). You can dampen a bit of the paper with alcohol and press the key down on it several times. Don't get too worried about cleaning your pads though, some stickiness does not always mean they need to be cleaned--if you take care of the flute they shouldn't really ever need cleaning.
Hope that helps some..
I personally wouldn't even touch my pads with anything - and wouldn't recommend that my students do either. There's just too much that can go wrong.
If the pads are in good working order (ie not sticky, and all sealing properly) then there really is no reason to be doing anything to them. How long since you last got your flute serviced? Maybe it's time for an overhaul if you're that concerned about the pads...?
If the pads are in good working order (ie not sticky, and all sealing properly) then there really is no reason to be doing anything to them. How long since you last got your flute serviced? Maybe it's time for an overhaul if you're that concerned about the pads...?
"Use Lighter fluid soaked into cigarette paper"
I have not heard that one yet, hummm. That lighter fluid sounds like a bad idea.
USE CIGARETTE PAPER on stiky pads. If you have any other pad problems you probley shouldn't attempt to fix them yourself.
More info at: http://www.fluteinfo.com/Doc/Cleaning/sticky.html
Jesse Clark
http://www.FluteInfo.com
A resource for all kinds of Flutists
I have not heard that one yet, hummm. That lighter fluid sounds like a bad idea.
USE CIGARETTE PAPER on stiky pads. If you have any other pad problems you probley shouldn't attempt to fix them yourself.
More info at: http://www.fluteinfo.com/Doc/Cleaning/sticky.html
Jesse Clark
http://www.FluteInfo.com
A resource for all kinds of Flutists
I haven't heard of using lighter fluid on pads, either... on tenons, yes. But it was a specfic type of lighter fluid (can't remember which) and very specific, careful instructions on how to apply. I believe I read about it on the FLUTE list, from a well-known flute technician.
I use cigarette papers as well. Make sure they are UNGUMMED.
And always "blot" the pad by closing the key, opening, and THEN removing the paper - never pull the paper out from a closed key.
I use cigarette papers as well. Make sure they are UNGUMMED.
And always "blot" the pad by closing the key, opening, and THEN removing the paper - never pull the paper out from a closed key.
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