Servicing the Flute

Servicing the Flute
By J.L. Smith
Published by JL Smith and Company

Contents:
1. Disassembling and assembling
2. Dealing with pad leaks
3. Replacing pads
4. “Bumpers”
5. Adjusting
6. Lost motion and key height
7. Head corks
8. Oiling

Introduction:
As with most things, mastery of flute repair is attained from the determined and relentless application of the basics, and it’s the basics that are taught in this manual. The topics of concentration in this text include padding, corking and adjusting of the instrument. These are the core skills necessary for servicing every woodwind. Even in the professional woodwind shop these critical operations represent 80% of the work done on flutes so these skills are an essential area of focus for the technician.
It’s challenging work and it takes time and perseverance to get it right but with a little practice and a lot of patience you’ll get the results you’re after and a huge amount of satisfaction from making an instrument perform to its fullest potential.
Enjoy!
– Jeff