Kirmser Flute Pad Preparation

One of the more frustrating aspects of providing quality flute repair is acquiring a good quality pad. A pad that is appropriately firm, has a blemish-free (double) skin, and is consistent in all dimensions. It has been my experience that even with the better, more expensive pads, one may still expect to come across some inconsistencies.

Faced with this problem back in the mid 70’s (when I opened my first repair business) I began to experiment with various techniques to prepare flute pads. After pre-treating pads with a number of liquid preparations (silicone, egg white, egg yolk, etc.) and arriving at no significant improvement, I experimented with a controlled pressing of various brands of flute pads. My first experiments were to lightly pre-moisten pads and pack them tightly in metal tubes separated by metal washers. The tubes were just a bit larger than the O.D. of the pad. Once the pads were packed tightly, I baked the tubes at low heat in a conventional oven for approximately 45 minutes. I then allowed them to cool and removed them. My initial impression was that the pads were improved somewhat. The less expensive pads showed the greatest improvement, however, after I installed all brands into a pad cup, I experienced the same frustrating inconsistencies as before. It seemed like a great idea, but no such luck.

My next strategy was to figure out a way to treat the pad after I installed it in its respective pad cup. Using the same approach, I installed the untreated pad into its cup with washers so that it exceeded the rim of the cup by approximately 0.015”. I then wiped the surface of the pad with a moist pipe cleaner folded in half. I used only enough moisture to induce the smoothing of the wrinkled pad surface (too much water is not good). I then heated a ¾” flat fender washer over my alcohol lamp for about 10 seconds and placed the washer on the pad and clamped it with a 4” spring clamp of moderately light clamping pressure. I made sure that the washer was carefully placed, and that an identical amount of pad was exceeding the pad cup all the way around it’s circumference. I then allowed the pad to remain clamped overnight. Upon removing the washers the next day, I discovered, by all indications, that this process seemed to have been quite effective. The result was a very firm pad that was precisely flat and even all around, and consistent in the amount it exceeded it pad cup rim; so far, so good. The real proof came only after I had padded several flutes using this process and then monitored their pad’s condition over time. As it has turned out, this technique has worked marvelously for me over the past 40+ years, on all brands and all levels of flutes. I have found that a relatively inexpensive brand of double skinned pad can be made to equal or even exceed many of the more expensive brands after this process. Presently, I use the Ferrees B38 Deluxe Yellow-Skin flute pad for most of our routine student flute repads and overhauls. In the event I desire a better pad, I use the Precision Pad, which I like very much. When integrating this process into a complete repad, I will average from 60 to 90 minutes to complete the job, start to finish. I charge $225 for a student flute repad, and require it in the shop for 3 or 4 days.