Emergency repairs you can do in a pinch

Sticky Pads

If your pads are very sticky, use cigarette papers soaked in lighter fluid to blot the pads. Soak the paper, put it under the pad and hold the key closed for a few seconds. DO NOT pull the paper out with pressure on the pad. This will cause premature wear on your pad skins and the pad will fail long before it should. Do not do this procedure too often. Only when it is absolutely necessary for a performance.

Flattening Tone

If the flute only seems to play one note progressively flatter, check the springs on the trill keys. They can be easily replaced if they have popped off. This can sometimes happen if you polish very close to the mechanism.

Broken Spring

If a spring is broken, you can usually rig a rubber band to hold the key up or down. Be warned- sulphur in the rubber will eat your silver if it is left for a long period of time. Remove the rubber bands after each use and get it to a technician ASAP.

Linkage Screws

On student flutes, IF YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE DOING IT, you can adjust the linkage screws. Use a piece of cigarette paper to compare the drag under each key. Adjust the screw until the drag on each pad is relatively even. If the screw is constantly moving out of adjustment, you can put some clear nail polish on the screw head to hold it once the proper adjustment is reached.

Binding Keys

On a student flute, if the F# or A# key is binding, try loosening the screw at the end of the rod slightly. This will often times free up the mechanism enough to play properly. Then coat the screw head with clear nail polish (or colored if you want to make a statement) to keep its position from changing.

Broken Pad Skin

If a pad skin breaks at a really bad time, you can get by with taking a piece of cellophane and wrapping it around the key cup. This may get you through a performance, but get to a good technician immediately.

Something else?

If you have a flute emergency and you cannot find a solution on this page AND you are located around the greater Columbus, Ohio area, contact me ASAP. I love to do emergency repairs!