Replacing a clarinet pad

Required tools: Screw driver Heat source Pad Spring clip or smooth jawed pliers Pad slick Pad Glue Feeler Gauge

Prep work: most clarinet pads can be removed and installed without removing the key. However, if you feel more comfortable removing the key take care to not lose the screws or rods. Step 1: Heat pad cup to remove the old pad (or old glue if the pad has fallen out). Take care to angle the body away from the heat source. Composite clarinets will melt so you must take care to protect the body of the instrument. Wood bodied instruments take more heat before you begin doing damage but you still must take care to not toast the clarinet Step 2: If there is a large amount of glue remaining use the tip of your screw driver to scrape it out. Step 3: Make a small hole in the "step" between the felt and the cardboard backing of the pad. This is to allow air to escape from the pad when you are seating it. If this step is skipped the pad will "mushroom" out into the tone hole, which will affect the intonation of the instrument Step 4: use your heat source to melt the pad glue unto the back of the pad. Take care to not get glue on your fingertips. Be careful to not use too much glue. Once the glue is cooled place the pad into the pad cup (variation: if you have the key off of the instrument place the pad into the pad cup as soon as you have melted the glue onto the back, then put the key back onto the instrument) Step 5: Angling the body away from your heat source heat the pad cup till the pad begins to shift. Care must be taken to avoid singeing the pad. If a pad is singed or burnt it should be replaced. Using the Pad spring clip apply pressure to the pad to create the seat. Step 6: After the key cup has cooled remove the spring clip and with the feeler gauge check the seal of the pad on all sides. If there is an uneven seal repeat step 5. Step 7: (if needed) If the pad will not seat properly you may need to manipulate it to get a proper seal. Reheat the pad cup and while the glue is still in a soft state use the pad slick to push up on the opposite

side of the pad from the leak or light seal. Allow to cool and recheck the seal with the feeler gauge. Troubleshooting: If the pad will not seal properly after trying steps 5 and 7 you should check the following areas Problem area 1: The tone hole may be chipped or worn. This is more common on wooden instruments but can happen on composite clarinets. Problem area 2: The regulation may be off and another key is not allowing the key you are padding to close fully, make sure the regulation is correct. Problem area 3: Make sure the key is not bent, specifically the pad cup. The pad cup can be bent in two different ways. The first is bent out of parallel with the tone hole. This can be fixed by using smooth jawed pliers and flexing the key at the arm. The second is the key cup can be out of round. This would cause the pad to be squeezed into an oval shape which will cause leaks. This must be taken to a repair tech be corrected Problem area 4: The new pad could be bad. Current manufacturing allows for a very consistent and precise pad. However, occasionally a pad will be misshapen and will never seat correctly. If all else fails, try a different pad.