jemtheflute wrote:
Ah, you haven't removed the metal cladding on the barrel. That's a crack repair, right? It rather spoils the flute's looks, even all buffed up!
First off I'm a rank amateur repairer (cleaning, pad and cork replacing etc.) so I didn't even dream of removing the sleeve repair on the barrel!
And maybe it's the sax player in me but I like the shiny silver barrel!


It is indeed a crack repair, a hefty-sized one from the exposed wood edge that I can see (apologies for the poor photo).

To remove the sleeve I imagine would only reveal some recessed, cracked, and potentially nastily glued wood? I can't imagine it looking more attractive in that state. Even if handsomely refinished it would lack its original and traditional 'barrel' shape, without adding substantial amounts of wood. I would love it to be original and wood, but it seems a step too far in my minor 'restoration'.
jemtheflute wrote:
Forgive the question, but you have checked everything there is sealing? And the stopper? Suck tests? The slightest leak up there would be quite enough to kill your bottom end regardless of embouchure development. Even for a complete beginner, yes, those low notes are the most difficult, but they shouldn't be completely unobtainable. Getting the foot key regulation spot on may be tricky, and open standing padded keys with leather pads can also be problematic even if the action is perfect because the pads don't get a good , permanent hole-rim impression in the same way as closed-standing keys. I always find I have to keep micro-adjusting and fiddling with the set-up of flutes I have restored for a good bit of play-testing before I have them just so....
I have checked all the pads with a leaklight and everything looks good, but not a suck/pop test. I'll do so tonight. Can one suck/pop test the headjoint easily?
I couldn't get my leaklight into the narrow foot joint beyond the Eb hole, and just like the majority of saxophone open keyed pads, I understand that the C# and C pads on a simple sytem flute are a real pain to get seated correctly. Once I receive my leather pads I will float them on shellac like a sax pad. Yes, the light pad rim indentations are tricky to achieve on open keyed wood chimneys.
Thanks also for your recommendation of books, Jem.
