Tech/maintenance testing saxophone for leaks

[saxn00b445]

is there a definitive test you can do to tell if your saxophone has leaking pads?

 

[saxn00b445]

i do not have a leak light/wand to put down the neck of the saxophone

 

[PiccoloPirate]

Cigarette paper or leader from cassette tapes, glued to sticks, can be used.
I sacrificed my chopsticks, and had to learn to used a fork. 😜
Tape between pad and rim, close gently at first and feel for tension as you pull it out.
Best to watch a video.
Saw something will a rubber glove on the bell, but that is not great to isolate the leaks

.

 

[teen37]

i do not have a leak light/wand to put down the neck of the saxophone

I read only this week that if you are in a brightly lit room, put your face almost into the bell and cover the rest of the opening with your hand whilst pressing your lowBb key you should be able to see any light leaks through lower bell pads.
Also I looked down the top of the body and you can just about see light coming through the rest of your pads top to bottom once your eyes adjust to see if any light leaks through once pressed.
It sort of gives you an idea if there are any major leaks as it's obvious but a visual chack as @PiccoloPirate mentioned will be more conclusive with pulling ciggy papers through. I was checking mine only yesterday and you can definitely see if there are any problems with a good visual check by pressing each note down and checking any movement in the rods and are the pads sitting flush to tone hole etc.
But I'm definitely no expert, this is just what I've gleaned from folks myself. 😊😉

 

[Stephen Howard]

When you say 'definitive'...

There are two aspects to checking for leaks - the first being the means by which you detect a leak. That can be either a leak light or a test paper. Or both.

The second is the method.
You should always test a pad while applying the least amount of pressure necessary to close the key. Just about any pad will seal if you press it down hard enough.
You also have to consider that some keys are linked to others - so you press one key down and another goes down with it.
You can clearly see this happening when you press the low F key down. The key above it (Aux.F) comes down...and so does the Bis Bb. To add more complications there's a connection from the Aux.F to the G#.
So if you want to test the F key you need to 'isolate' the other keys by holding or wedging them down. This will then give you a true reading of how well (or otherwise) the F pad is seating.
Without that isolation you might well spot a leak...but it might be caused by a regulation problem rather than the pad itself.

So go lightly, and think about how other keys might affect the one you're testing.

 

[mizmar]

i do not have a leak light/wand to put down the neck of the saxophone

Why not get one?
A leak light can cost as much as a few reeds and lasts for ever.

Although, I suspect, getting to "definitive" is a matter of technique and practice, rather than equipment

 

[teen37]

Why not get one?
A leak light can cost as much as a few reeds and lasts for ever.

Although, I suspect, getting to "definitive" is a matter of technique and practice, rather than equipment

Yeah I agree, i bought a led strip light on a roll about 1mtr long off amazon for less than a fiver and I doubled it over so gives light both sides and it works a treat ☺️👍

 

[Targa]

i do not have a leak light/wand to put down the neck of the saxophone

You’ll be getting the xmas dekkies out soon, use the fairy lights.

 

[turf3]

i do not have a leak light/wand to put down the neck of the saxophone

They have these enterprises called "hardware stores" where you can buy an LED strip light for short money.

You may also have heard of a company called "Amazon".

 

[Pete Thomas]

Don’t forget that not all leaks are due to pads and toneholes. There can be leaks due to badly fitting neck tenon or even body/bow and bow/bell joints. These are leaks that often won’t usually show with a leak light unless so extreme the saxophone is falling apart. One of the experts please correct me if I’m wrong about that.

 

[teen37]

They have these enterprises called "hardware stores" where you can buy an LED strip light for short money.

You may also have heard of a company called "Amazon".

Yeah, I already mentioned Amazon 😳🙄🤷
Maybe repetition for emphasis 🤔🤔🤔

 

[turf3]

Yeah, I already mentioned Amazon 😳🙄🤷
Maybe repetition for emphasis 🤔🤔🤔

I will admit, the phrase "I don't have a leak light" is just the kind of thing that annoys me. Come on buddy, we're not talking about an analytical instrument that costs $500,000! None of us was born with a leak light in our hands; we got ours the same way you can get yours; slap some money down on the counter (or virtual counter) and go home with a leak light.

It's like when people try to avoid doing a job because "I don't know how to do that". Well, do you think I was born knowing it? I learned it, so now it's your job to learn it too.

 

[Dr G]

I read only this week that if you are in a brightly lit room, put your face almost into the bell and cover the rest of the opening with your hand whilst pressing your lowBb key you should be able to see any light leaks through lower bell pads.
Also I looked down the top of the body and you can just about see light coming through the rest of your pads top to bottom once your eyes adjust to see if any light leaks through once pressed.
It sort of gives you an idea if there are any major leaks as it's obvious but a visual chack as @PiccoloPirate mentioned will be more conclusive with pulling ciggy papers through. I was checking mine only yesterday and you can definitely see if there are any problems with a good visual check by pressing each note down and checking any movement in the rods and are the pads sitting flush to tone hole etc.
But I'm definitely no expert, this is just what I've gleaned from folks myself. 😊😉

Or you could yell into the bell and listen for where the sound comes out.

Seriously, if you can see leaks that easily, your horn is looooong overdue for attention.

 

[teen37]

Or you could yell into the bell and listen for where the sound comes out.

Seriously, if you can see leaks that easily, your horn is looooong overdue for attention.

Oh my goodness 🤣🤣 you're hilarious 🤣🙄😉

 

[Colin the Bear]

Best tool I ever bought was a USB led strip leak light. £5 on Ebay. Comes in handy when there's power cut too. 😉