E42 Saxophone Pad Slicks A whole new way for a better job!
From the Archives of Erick Brand. Well, the idea at least. We have taken this original idea and
modernized it. (Nee RT202)
These Pad Slicks are
NOT meant to bend keys,
but, to protect the pads from false seats from the tone hole edges
USE AFTER
the leveling is done and before the seating!
There are two sets of directions
below from two different views.
Set of 9 "wrenches" for use on saxophones,
will help get your pad jobs done real slick.
When we bought Erick Brand back in 1992, there we some ideas that just needed updating.
After some gentle prodding from a few really fussy Repairmen, we sat down and completely redesigned
and consolidated ideas the get the old E/B slicks to work on today's horns
with todays resonators of various types. The
saxes are thinner now and don't
have thick soldered-on tone holes or heavier gauged 'silversoldered to the body' tone holes.
They didn't even HAVE "tone boosters" on the pads back then. Just a single
thread or rivet or sometimes a rivet with a washer under it. Also, with the buffing,
stripping and/or
other damage that can happen-- you can use the extra protection these
new pad slicks provide. The (improvements) were:
1) Only .020" (.5mm) thick, doesn't affect angle of pad to tone hole.
2) Double ended for more precision fit,
offering 18 different sizes.
3) Each has a
center hole to fit around most sized resonators.
4) Stainless steel construction (rust-frei)
for those who use water. Oh, Yeah!.....A fifth improvement; LOW
COST. Compare at over $175.00
[The major diameters of the tools run from 3/4"
(19mm) to 2 7/16" (61.9mm) over the 18 sizes.]
Ferree's price....just $96.00
Not like .075" thick Votaw #2375, set of only 6, priced at $78.
See our G21, set of 7, Pad Leveling Tools at only
$39.50, for 3-D positioning and leveling the pad cups over the tone holes.
Below; NOT ONE, but, 2;
TWO sets of directions;
from 2
very different points of view.
First, from Steve Goodson, New Orleans, LA
~Using the Ferree "Saxgourmet" pad irons by
Steve Goodson~
These great tools are a must if you do any saxophone work at all!
As you install pads and resonators in the key cups, apply a few drops of water
to the pad and heat the irons on your bench burner and use them to smooth and tighten the leather.
As you assemble the horn, heat the pad cup until the
shellac softens and insert the appropriate pad iron between the cup and the tone hole.
Move the iron back and forth to ensure perfect alignment. If you've
done the job right and the tone holes are level and the key cups are straight,
you'll have to do very little further regulating.
These irons are a tremendous
time saver and do a much better job for the client. I want you to know that they are saving me a minimum of one hour per overhaul.
If you're doing any saxophone repair at all, these tools are a must.
Don't go near a saxophone without them!
"The more I use the slicks, the happier I become. Next to my
screwdriver, they are the most used tools on my bench!" STEVE GOODSON
www.saxgourmet.com
Next, Eric Satterlee, Meridian Winds, MI
Although you will no doubt adapt to your own routine of use with these
tools, when I was first exposed to the concept of utilizing these pad slicks
with their intended method it was explained to me as follows.
#1. As always, check the tone hole/s for level and correct as needed.
#2. Level the key cup side to side and front to back to an extent that you
are satisfied with. You can utilize this set of tools in doing so by
selecting and placing one on the tone hole surface and bringing the pad cup
down on top of the slick which allows you an excellent gauge of
preparedness.
#3. Select the correct size pad for the cup (I will always remember when I
first started repairing saxophones in 1972 Cliff Ferree showed me the
correct way to select a pad. The pad should press snugly into the cup, yet
should pop out if you hold the key cup in one hand and rap it firmly against
your other palm a few times.)
#4. Melt adhesive onto the back of the pad (I have used George's Glue for
the past many years). On smaller pads keep the glue to the center of the
pad, on larger pads keep the glue away from the outer edge of the pad. Use
an amount of glue you believe to be adequate for pad height and to float the
pad.
#5. After the instrument is assembled and you are ready to begin the seating
process select the pad slick you believe to be best suited relative to the
size of the key cup, the tone hole and the size of the pad resonator. Once
selected, position it in place to begin the seating operation.
#6. Gradually heat the pad cup. I use the Ferree's L60 Mini Micro Torch,
exclusively, in saxophone work. If you have experience in padding saxophones it has no
doubt become like a 6th sense to you when the adhesive is becoming semi
molten.
#7. At the point when you believe the adhesive is softened suitably to allow
for the pad to "Float", while pressing the key cup/pad firmly down on top of
the slick, rotate the slick back and forth between 4 and 8 (on the clock)
repeating this motion several times. This rotation of the pad in the cup
distributes the adhesive under the pad as the pad finds it's "level/flat"
position on top of the pad slick, which you have already determined is
laying on top of a "level" tone hole. (If you remove a pad from it's cup
after using this method you will see how the glue has distributed itself in
the cup.)
#8. Lift the pad cup enough to quickly remove the pad slick, apply sax wedge
or clamp to the key cup, allow to cool. When it has cooled you can check the
results with a leak light, however, if you have prepared your work
adequately, the pad covers!
#9. By assembling the instrument in sequence (upper stack Bb, lower stack &
G#, side F#, low Eb & C, RH side keys, octave mech., upper stack, high F
rocker, LH palm keys, low C#, Low B, Low Bb, G# lever) you can check your work
with a leak-light when the instrument is completely assembled, however,
after you have used this method a few times the light becomes a "Just to
make sure" measure. --- Eric
Ferree's Tools-"the most
copied tools in the world"
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