Saxophone Key Modifications with thermoplastic

jazzarazzer

Member
30
Hi all
Greetings from Dublin
Been getting help from this forum for a long time so decided to join up and contribute something. Posted this on another forum recently and thought it might be useful to people here.
I refer here to Stephen Howards article on shwoodwind on the use of a moldable material which he used for palm key risers and such called sugru. Takes 24 hours to dry. An its relatively expensive
I recently found, on ebay, a material called Polymorph Thermoplastic.
Melts in water at 60 degrees. Is then mouldable to any shape you want. Sets as soon as it cools to a fairly hard plastic somewhat like nylon. Very easy to use and very satisfactory results. Also very cheap, 100 gms is only a few euros including postage. It can be melted again as many times as you like so if your not happy with the result just melt and do it again.
Today i got some and made a replacement right thumb hook for my yani 991 copy. Lovely sax but the hook was too low for me. (Its a thomann TTS 150 so if anyone is interested in details of that let me know)
Also made a low C sharp pinky key riser for my old Lafleur (must be as old as me and im 55) tenor. Still going strong after all those years, lovely balance to it but the pinky key, ouch, too far back and too little leverage. A common problem with vintage saxes i believe.
Both the thumb hook and the pinky key riser are a total success. Cost peanuts. And were done in half an hour. And this is my first time even seeing the stuff. No more sore thumb and pinky
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Any questions just ask, glad to help and grateful for all the help ive had from here.
I hope this will be usefull to lots of people in making their own modifications. Not sure if i can post a link to ebay here. Maybe someone can let me know? Anyway its easy enough to find.
Cheers
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Yes that's the one thanks. A kg is quite a lot to start with though. Heres a link to 100gms for a few quid. Enough to do every key on a sax

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/170701279820?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

Came to dublin from england through the customs etc no bother. Its quite obviously plastic in the form of small pellets so you can spoon out as much as you want to use.
 
For those in the US the product is available from Rio Grande Jewelery Supply under the brand name Jett Basic.

Below is an example of palm key risers I made for a Buescher Curved Soprano using this wonderful material.

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Looks like really usefull stuff, pity i bought some Sugru, which is waiting in the fridge, till i get my New Wonder 11 back from the shop thats having a complete setup and reg. I was planning to use the Sugru particularly for the RH. side keys. But considering the amount that can be built up with this material, it looks like the best option.
Thanks for posting this great product.
 
Lovely job. It seems to blend in well colourwise also i find. Very similar in colour to the key touches. 🙂 "Wonderful" is a good way of putting it.
 

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

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