[Stephen Howard]

It's been a while since I posted the article on Sugru key riser mods, and I'm aware that quite a few players have used this stuff to make their own palm key risers - as well as other interesting ergonomics mods.
The question is, how are they holding up?

What prompts me to ask is that the cushion top fell off my screwdriver today, and while I was popping it back on it occured to me that I'd made it out of Sugru some time back, and it's seen heavy daily use since then. It's still as sound as the day I made it.

In case anyone hasn't seen the article, here it is again:

http://www.shwoodwind.co.uk/HandyHints/key_risers.htm

Regards,

 

[SaxPunter]

Mods still holding up well here

 

[koumou]

I've got high D and E palm keys raised with sukru since January. Holding up well.

 

[Alastair Grant]

Holding up fine for me after about a year. (Palm keys on alto and tenor)

 

[soybean]

You can see my Sugru mods here: http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?163855-Sax-Modifications-Using-Sugru-I-Hacked-it! Stephen, you were the inspiration for these modifications. I've worked on 5 horns now with Sugru, (and 1 pair of shoes). Only one sugru mod has fallen off a key and it was a piece I thought was too thin when I installed it.

 

[mike713]

I gotta get me some of this stuff...

 

[shmuelyosef]

I have been using epoxy putty for palm key risers for probably 10 years, on both my own and customer horns. Never had one come off, but only takes a minute to pop it off with quick heat from a torch. A dap of cyanoacrylate and it goes right back on...

 

[Mark Fleming]

I've had no issues with palm key risers for a year. No problems with side E door stop shaped risers on several vintage horns to make a "can't miss" riser like on later horns. I even made the thumb pearls more ergonomic by adding Sugru.

The latest test will be a recent repair to a rack on the inside of my freezer. Several months old and doing fine. The Sugru was beyond it's use-by date, so this will be an extreme test.

Mark

 

[soybean]

a question Stephen. Do you think it's safe to use Sugru on silver plated or gold plated saxophones? On your site you say that you tested it for tarnishing on Silver, but could Sugru have any negative effect on the plating's longevity? thanks.

 

[Stephen Howard]

I've had no problems on my test pieces which were fixed to silver plated keys after a year or so, and no-one has reported any problems so far. I haven't tested the stuff on gold plate, but as it's less reactive than silver it ought to be just fine.

Regards,

 

[McTenor]

I raised the gold plated palm keys on my Borgani one year ago - no problems,
Great stuff !!
Thanks, Stephen

 

[clarnibass]

Not that I think Sugru will cause any issue like that, but I think some Borgani saxophones have lacquer over the gold plating.

 

[Stephen Howard]

I raised the gold plated palm keys on my Borgani one year ago - no problems,
Great stuff !!
Thanks, Stephen

That's useful info, thanks!

Regards,

 

[DaveR]

Hi Stephen, I did my S3 Soprano and Ref54 Alto a year ago and they are still as solid as when I did them; no appreciable degradation at all and they have had some pretty hard treatment. IMO Sugru is the absolute best solution to building up keys, I really sculpted it during and after the curing process to fit my long thin fingers. I'm away at present, but if I remember I'll post some pics when I get back.
Dave

 

[mike713]

I ordered some Sugru last week and it arrived several days earlier than I expected. I made palm key risers for the D and Eb keys that are setting as I write this... let's see how they turn out!

 

[soybean]

The Sugru was beyond it's use-by date, so this will be an extreme test.

Does Sugru "go bad" after it's date? I always assumed it would be fine if kept out of the air. I keep my packets sealed inside zip lock bags.

 

[Stephen Howard]

We're about to find out!

Regards,

 

[echoes]

On the advise of your article I bought some from amazon.co.uk. My 3 LH palm key risers are setting as we speak. I did the D two nights ago and it is now hard as a rock and did the other 2 last night and when I pressed them this morning they were setting nicely, still a little squidgy. Got a gig on Saturday night so here's hoping they will be completely set before then so I can get some practising in and get used to the feel. I've done this mod on my Selmer SA80 S2, never thought about it until I had a play on a SA80 with risers and just thought they felt much better. The palm keys on the S2 seem to be really close to the body of the horn. My Antigua soprano has the palm keys in just the right place, don't know why I didn't investigate risers before.

 

[Stephen Howard]

A bit of heat speeds up the setting process - but the risers should be good and ready well before the weekend.

Regards,

 

[DaveR]

Here, as promised are some pics of the Sugru I applied to my S3 soprano a year ago. It's had some fairly hard treatment and has not degraded at all. Pretty? No. Functional? Exceptionally.