[saxm]

This topic has probably been previously discussed but I don't know how to find it (perhaps some can help me with that). I play flute and picc but began doubling on sax a year ago. I play a new Selmer Series II and find that the C# and Ab pads stick. I've used the cigarette paper bit and well as the dirty dollar bill. Nothing is foolproof. What can I do?
Thanks for any help.

 

[Carl H.]

Try here.

 

[renegade]

I bought a liquid from a Yamaha store in Tokyo which I apply to sticky pads on my sax. It works. I think the product is also made by Yamaha.

 

[jbtsax]

Sorry Carl, your link didn't work.

1. Lighter fluid (naptha) on a Q-tip clean both the pad and the tonehole
2. If there is still crud on the tone hole pull a cut sheet of 800 grit sandpaper face down across the tone hole with slight downward pressure a few times to clean and polish the surface---then clean again with naptha to remove dust
3. Use Yamaha powered pad papers
4. If the above suggestions don't work---replace the pad

John

 

[Carl H.]

Updated the link, apparently sotw searches are time sensitive?

Just type sticky pads in the search box.

 

[bruce bailey]

For light sticking, use baby powder on a piece of paper.

 

[gary]

What's been working for me lately is wedging part of a gum eraser between the sax body and the (low) C# key (on the metal connecting part, not directly on the pad) to prop this and the G# key open when the sax is drying out. As a double check, I rub these pads with Yamaha powder paper just before playing.

My guess is allowing the C# and G# pads to dry out open vs closed is what's doing the trick. Since starting this, I've not had any sticking on these pads. Give it a try.

 

[Grumps]

Hey Gary man... I thought you were dead?
Either way, welcome back.

I'd always managed to keep a buck in my pocket while on a gig to slip in and slide out off the G# tone hole with the pad held closed to keep it working on the job. The other day however, I finally went for the lighter's fluid trick and the buck stayed in my pocket the next night.

 

[rleitch]

With respect to the sticky pads problem: Is there any point in talking about causes? The pads on my King tenor virtually never stick whereas my Martin pads are driving me crazy; the G#, the C# and the D# all get stuck regularly and the rest are sticky. I don't feel like I do anything differently with them, so what's going on? It seems like it must be either the horn or the pads?

Rory

 

[coolsax2k7]

Hey Gary man... I thought you were dead?
Either way, welcome back.

:twisted::albino::cyclopsa:

 

[jrvinson45]

Hey Gary, how ya doin? I just used the search function on "sticky pads" and guess what I found your solution about 4 posts up... Wow! And YOU didn't even say "sticky pads" go figure... Welcome home, man.

 

[jmm1713]

runyon pad dope .

 

[bruce bailey]

I played in a Comm band and the 2nd player who was a wealthy mogul (and sax collector) would clean his pads with a $100 bill. I used the music from the stand.

 

[Desax]

Sticky Pads

5 things to check. One, are you playing with a clean mouth, no sugars in the horn from drinks? Two, the pores of the pad can be cleaned and resealed for longer life, much longer life with a pad water proofer, also extends pliabillity of pad. Three. Take out screw for that pad, clean it, lube it. Four check to see if pin has not shifted therefore not applying the correct tension. Five. Powder paper, not designed to be used everytime you play, if you find that you have to their is a problem somewhere else. And for petes sake, don't believe the dollar bill trick. I can see where someone in a night club drinking and playing could be a problem and not bothering to swab out condensation and putting their horn away "Wet" and maybe raking off gobs of sugar syrup with a dollar bill but that is a bit of a contradiction isn't it? And sandpaper?????? The pores to the pad are very sensitive to abrasion, not sure I would go there. Just my opinion, hope I helped

 

[jbtsax]

A very fine grit sandpaper 800+ can be used face down to clean and smooth the surface of the tone holes. The abrasive side does not touch the pad.

John

 

[Grumps]

And for petes sake, don't believe the dollar bill trick.

You mean like don't believe in Santa Claus?
I'm talking one pad, G#, and if you run a bill through it (or just about any piece of paper), your key won't stick for the gig. This is very helpful to any musician on the spot, and is certainly not fantasy.

 

[Rojarosguitar]

Hello, I have time and again problems with sticky pads (most notoriously Bb-key, g#-key, and the octave key of my Yamaha Bass Clarinet, the last being the worst).

Would it make sense tu use some kind of lubrication like silicone or Teflon or graphite to diminish their tendency to stick closed?

 

[malteof]

Sticky pads

See link above, actually first link from recommended reading below Has been covered before.

 

[milandro]

the entire matter of stickinss of pads has been covered not only before but by many many threads

( I hope this shows as a linkt to the search with the search engine, there are over 25 pages of links more or less related to these two words)

Search results for query: sticky pads

www.saxontheweb.net

Having said this ( and recommending the search and follow up of already existing threads despite the deficiencies of the search engine which works in a worse way than the Google Search Box which we had before)

I have recommended many times to spray silicon or teflon ( after perhaps cleaning first the gunk on the tonehole edge and in the worse cases on the pads where it may be sitting on the tonehole impression) on blotting paper and then putting the soaked up paper between pad and tonehole and close the key several times so that the leather absorbs the non sticking solution.

read the procedure here (also used to " recondition" pads)

Treating Older Pads

I just purchased a used soprano that based on its serial no. is from the late 1980s. I suspect the pads are original but I would not know how to judge that. What I can say is that they are not new. There are no tears and only slight discoloration on the pads covering normally closed tone holes...

www.saxontheweb.net

Personally I am not a fan of powders , recently I spent some time cleaning every pad on a horn which came powdered with it (and was sticky in my opinion because of it) .

 

[mmichel]

Lubrication and/or powders are generally a bad idea as they tend to build up and gum up your pads over time, making the problem worse.

I use naptha (lighter fluid) to clean the pads. I'm sure that if you take a look at the suggested earlier threads, you'll find that this is what many professional techs use.