G’day all,
I have a keyed Flute that I haven’t played for a few years..It was re-padded by a professional back then but has had very little playing since.
The lower notes are hard to get and I’m supposing that there’s a problem with the pads seating properly.
Is there anything I can ‘coat’ the pads with to make them seal properly.. or is there another thing that can be done ?
Thanks in advance… weedie
Try some spittle on the pads and press down a while…Whilst your waiting for a more proffi solution I’ll jump in here it may assist you also? Anyone know where to buy white pads for a piccolo, about/with 11 mm cups?
B5 Deluxe White Flute Pad
http://www.ferreestools.com/pads/pads-flute.html
Thanks your help on my Q’s is all mounting up:-)) I note they mention for certain makes. I suppose it would be of no difference on an old Rudall Carte piccolo aka “band flute” 
)
You won’t get Ferree’s pads in Europe that I know of, and anyway you don’t want skin pads on a simple system picc, Neil. I haven’t found a source of thin white leather pads in GB or Europe, though I’ve seen sources of them (clarinet pads) Stateside. The tan leather clarinet pads from Windcraft are all I know of. I did pick up a couple of small bags of thinner black and white leather pads in assorted sizes a couple of years back, but they were an eBay clearance of some very old stock from somewhere, not repeatable.
Having found the piccolo the pads should have been easier, but…one axle screw (C nat) the slot head had sheared off in half. So was ready to hacksaw the screw/key off the pillar. Lo & behold it turned, so had a bit of luck there. The nickel mouthpiece tube is a bit pitted due to being left wet over the years, don’t think I’m going to overcome that, but it’s only unsightly & can achieve the full compass. So all in all the pads nexxt and I’ve cracked one off my wanted list at last:-)) When you say bags are the 100K potatoe or smaller sacks LoL
Hmmm ,I do believe a thread hijack has occurred 
so spittle on the pads is all I get ?
Not at all I wrote I thought it may assist you and on topic ref pads & kept your post alive. So if you think any harm came out of it re-post afresh again and maybe you’ll get separate thoughts? Good luck in between the “for sale” ads always a tricky posting to find. Sorry to have upset you, I take it you never tried the moisture tip by spitting here LoL 
Please clarify - is this a wooden 8-key, or Boehm? If 8-key, then the lower keys have pads, not pewter plugs?
I would first check for leaks at the foot joint, which can make them difficult to sound.
With either type of flute, you can temporarily tape/rubber band/clamp the pads to close tightly over the tone hole so they should seal, unless the pads are actually torn up badly. If you can’t get the low notes then, either it’s an issue of a more severe leak (crack or loose joint), or you’re just out of practice. If they improve, then it’s more likely your keys are out of adjustment, rather than the pads.
Any luck working your way down slowly from the stronger notes?
All’s good Neilb… not upset at all mate… just a wee poke was all …
I’ll try you suggestion..
It’s a wooden Flute Kevin ..thank you for the tips and info…when work finishes on Wednesday,I’ll try all of the above… thanks to both of you..
Just as well I never took it any other way or I’d have written on your bike:-)) Short working weeks in OZ then, can’t be bad. 
Another odd thing I’ve found that sometimes works is to take the leaky joint, cover one end, seal the fingerholes and rubberband or hold the keys down, and just breathe into the other end for a bit. If you’ve got good lungs you can also suck in a little (blow any lingering dust out first!). Repeat a few times, maybe over several days. The combination of warm moist breath and holding the keys down seems to be a gentle way to encourage the pads to settle back into place. Like I said, it doesn’t always work, especially on really dry pads, but I’ve had it improve mild cases.