PPT mouthpieces
PPT mouthpieces
PPT mouthpieces

Tech/maintenance My new "DIY" pads...

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Yes...

Another innovation which I can't go into yet but was a lightbulb moment. Not an upgrade to the pads, more a customisation option. More soon...

Plus, some other exciting news which again I can't reveal yet frustratingly. More on this in the future.

Two sets of pads went into a repairer's customer's MKVI tenor and 62 alto. Yes, I've asked for videos of them playing. Don't wait up.

I'm really just going with the flow, and recent interest the videos have stirred up from many quarters.
I don't need any income from this project, just being buoyed along by the thought it might one day become the norm but I know that's pie in the sky.
 
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Oh... almost forgot...

The next batch of pads will be self-adhesive. No shellac, no hot glue, no heating, no mess.

Previously I've tried gluing the magnet base into the centre of key cups using a variety of liquid adhesives including impact adhesive; super glues; 2 part structural adhesive.

Whilst the structural adhesive gives a secure bond it's messy and time consuming to apply.

The new 3M thin double-sided acrylic self-adhesive backing rings, to match the magnets' shape, are applied to the magnets in manufacture with an easy peel paper to remove just prior to placing in the cups. The backing rings will compress slightly into the concave cup centres so as to allow maximum area adhesion. Once cured, any further backing movement is negated.

They fully cure in 72hrs to form a secure bond but can be removed under medium manual leverage without leaving any hard residue behind as is the case with a shellac, or hot glue pad installation.

In tests, previously used pad cups were cleaned, the centres lightly abraded with 400 grit paper, and then cleaned with IPA. Magnets were installed and their new self-adhesive backing formed a secure bond when checked at the recommended 72hrs full cure time. Having no pull forces, only push, the magnets stay secure.

This will make first time installation easier:
Dismantle > Level uneven tone holes > Clean all parts including key cups > Install pads into key cups using self-adhesive magnet backing > Re-assemble > Adjust/Regulate via individual pad height adjustment screws/shim washers, and/or original keywork adjusters.

More soon...
 
those bell key pads / keys look excellent, it reminds me of my toptone alto, which incidentally play with great rapidity, almost no resistance it seems, i think it's a really good idea. but crucially it might cost a good deal to 'convert' a sax, and many people in my field would be more than just reluctant to submit a cherished (or otherwise) vintage saxophone for expensive and irreversible torture.

i'd still love to play one, and if you can at any time give me a price for such an operation i have sufficient numbers of saxophones to be able to risk one very good one, perhaps a late pierret (wonderful!) or an SML (marvelous!) alto. it would be an interesting experiment, if i can afford it.
 
Remember Peter that the standard "retro-fit" involves no changes to your horn, just removal of the pads and insertion of a, now self-adhesive, small magnet in each key cup.

If you want to revert to traditional pads in the future, prise out the magnets and you're back to where you started.

The altered bell key example would be one for manufacturers looking to reduce weight.
 
peterpick said:
those bell key pads / keys look excellent, it reminds me of my toptone alto, which incidentally play with great rapidity, almost no resistance it seems, i think it's a really good idea. but crucially it might cost a good deal to 'convert' a sax, and many people in my field would be more than just reluctant to submit a cherished (or otherwise) vintage saxophone for expensive and irreversible torture.

i'd still love to play one, and if you can at any time give me a price for such an operation i have sufficient numbers of saxophones to be able to risk one very good one, perhaps a late pierret (wonderful!) or an SML (marvelous!) alto. it would be an interesting experiment, if i can afford it.
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Peter, just thought I'd add that I have a Dore stencil of an SML "Standard" alto stripped down and ready for retro fitting with my pads. Here, at bottom:
I picked it up for a song and wanted to put my pads in just to see how an SML plays. I've not tried one before.

I am receiving other enquiries from individuals around the world now, wanting to "give it a go" fitting my pads on a DIY basis - well that's what I wanted to do originally so why not?
I'm a little hesitant as there are so many hurdles I've had to get over as an amateur DIY repairer, not the least of which is adjustment and regulation. My system makes this so easy on the one hand. No messy pad gluing. Just mechanical adjustment, similar to a four wheel alignment on your car, except... you wouldn't be doing that would you? A mechanic would be employed.

I managed to get the regulation right on the first prototype, eventually, so am I being too pessimistic of others' abilities?
I now know how to do it systematically, but initially it takes a good while to understand the inter-relationship of the keys. How confident with this do you feel Peter?

Apart from this, fitting my pads is becoming more and more straightforward. Most competent amateur techs could dismantle and clean their horns, measure the key cups, and stick the (now) self-adhesive magnets in them. But tone hole levelling (a must), dealing with bits that come adrift (corks, felts, springs), and final setting up and balancing of key work may fox and frustrate some DIY'ers and/or they may make silly fitting errors.

I can write instructions and make videos of course, but I'm conscious some over enthusiastic owners may bite off more than they can chew.

Who here, reading this, is sure they can do all that's required as above?
 
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DavidUK said:
so am I being too pessimistic of others' abilities?
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It could be combined with others being too optimistic with their own.
DavidUK said:
I can write instructions and make videos of course, but I'm conscious some over enthusiastic owners may bite off more than they can chew
Read more…

You should definitely do that.

DavidUK said:
Who here, reading this, is sure they can do all that's required as above?
Read more…
I would give it a go then probably be off down the road to get a tech to fix it.
 
DavidUK said:
I can write instructions and make videos of course, but I'm conscious some over enthusiastic owners may bite off more than they can chew.
Read more…
To flip that issue.
There are no end of products that really or only took off when both set-up and use became generally easy (and cheap). For peek "no tradesmen required" IKEA is obvious. But... For example
We think of the electric plug as, well a plug - how electric stuff is plugged in. But, actually, it's a cheap, mass-produced electrical connection jig... And a lot of work went into making it safe and reliable and easy to add and use. No tradesman required (not that some people can't screw it up!)
Good product design isn't only about producing a better widget; but how that widget is deployed, how production scales, packaging and transport, etc.

Sorry, rambling. My point is. You are creative and innovative - maybe apply some of that to how the pads are installed? Is there a jig or tool that could be 3D printed or something as well as instructions etc.
 

Similar threads... or are they? Maybe not but they could be worth reading anyway 😀

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