Repairing Flute Felt Key Pads Repair Guide

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

                          2 - 30 minutes

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Repairing Flute Felt Key Pads
42 steps

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Introduction

What you need

Step 1

              Remove from Case

Do not grab the body of the flute by its keys when removing it from the case.
Instead, grasp it by the tenon section, where you won’t put stress on the springs.
Remove the head piece in a similar fashion.
Avoid contact with the nickel-silver portion of the tenon when holding the head piece. The sweat from your skin leaves behind acids that can eventually corrode it.
Also, don’t grab the head piece by its lip plate. If you are wearing a ring, you could scratch the embouchure hole.
It is okay to grab the foot joint by the bottom two keys (the ones connected to the B and C rollers).

Do not grab the body of the flute by its keys when removing it from the case.

Instead, grasp it by the tenon section, where you won’t put stress on the springs.

Remove the head piece in a similar fashion.

Avoid contact with the nickel-silver portion of the tenon when holding the head piece. The sweat from your skin leaves behind acids that can eventually corrode it.

Also, don’t grab the head piece by its lip plate. If you are wearing a ring, you could scratch the embouchure hole.

It is okay to grab the foot joint by the bottom two keys (the ones connected to the B and C rollers).

1024

Step 2

              Cut out a Strip of Rolling Paper

Use a pair of scissors to cut out a small strip of rolling paper.
The size isn’t critical, so don’t worry if it doesn’t look identical to the one in the guide.

Use a pair of scissors to cut out a small strip of rolling paper.

The size isn’t critical, so don’t worry if it doesn’t look identical to the one in the guide.

Step 3

              Identifying the Misaligned Keys

Use tweezers to hold the rolling paper.
Press the key lightly on the paper and pull outward.
Try this at eight different angles from the center of the key.
If the felt pad is making proper contact, you should feel a drag. If you feel that there is little or no drag, then you have identified the key that needs to be repaired.
Hopefully, there is only one side of the key that has this issue. Otherwise, you may need a new felt pad.

Use tweezers to hold the rolling paper.

Press the key lightly on the paper and pull outward.

Try this at eight different angles from the center of the key.

If the felt pad is making proper contact, you should feel a drag. If you feel that there is little or no drag, then you have identified the key that needs to be repaired.

Hopefully, there is only one side of the key that has this issue. Otherwise, you may need a new felt pad.

Step 4

              Place Holding the Repair

Mark the felt pad and the metal next to it where you felt little or no contact.
This step is important! We will use this later as a reference for the fix.
If your misaligned key is located only on the foot joint: skip ahead to step 20 to avoid unnecessary disassembly.
For repairing a key located on the body: follow the proceeding steps until you’ve successfully disassembled the key of interest. There is no need to disassemble the flute any further, so follow the guide as far as necessary and then, skip ahead to either step 20 (if a key in the foot joint needs fixing) or step 22.

Mark the felt pad and the metal next to it where you felt little or no contact.

This step is important! We will use this later as a reference for the fix.

If your misaligned key is located only on the foot joint: skip ahead to step 20 to avoid unnecessary disassembly.

For repairing a key located on the body: follow the proceeding steps until you’ve successfully disassembled the key of interest. There is no need to disassemble the flute any further, so follow the guide as far as necessary and then, skip ahead to either step 20 (if a key in the foot joint needs fixing) or step 22.

Step 5

              Removing Keys from the Body

Remove the screw connected to the F, E, and D keys.
Keep track of which screw goes where for when you reassemble it.

Remove the screw connected to the F, E, and D keys.

Keep track of which screw goes where for when you reassemble it.

Step 6

Repeat this step for the rail below the first one.
The keys will become lose and the rails will become misaligned. Relax, this is supposed to happen!

Repeat this step for the rail below the first one.

The keys will become lose and the rails will become misaligned. Relax, this is supposed to happen!

Step 7

On the other side of the flute, remove the screw connected to the same rail from the previous step.
That rail should be free when you loosen the screw.

On the other side of the flute, remove the screw connected to the same rail from the previous step.

That rail should be free when you loosen the screw.

Step 8

Remove the rail that has the F, E, and D keys.
The long rail can budge to the left enough for the shorter rail to slip out.

Remove the rail that has the F, E, and D keys.

The long rail can budge to the left enough for the shorter rail to slip out.

Step 9

The D key should be free to slide from the rail. Be sure not to lose it!

The D key should be free to slide from the rail. Be sure not to lose it!

Step 10

Push the rail out of the small groove.
Weave the two trill keys (D and D#) out from underneath the springs.
It’s OKAY if they bend.

Push the rail out of the small groove.

Weave the two trill keys (D and D#) out from underneath the springs.

It’s OKAY if they bend.

Step 11

This step is not necessary unless your misaligned key is the B tab. If this is not your misaligned key, skip this step.
Remove the rod located at the bottom of the vertical rail.
All the rods are like long screws and it’s all one piece.

This step is not necessary unless your misaligned key is the B tab. If this is not your misaligned key, skip this step.

Remove the rod located at the bottom of the vertical rail.

All the rods are like long screws and it’s all one piece.

Step 12

Next, loosen the screw connected to the C, B flat, and A keys. This screw is actually a rod. Pull this rod out using your fingers.

Next, loosen the screw connected to the C, B flat, and A keys. This screw is actually a rod. Pull this rod out using your fingers.

Step 13

Remove the C key. This will make the next steps easier to complete .
On the same rail, remove the rest of the keys (B flat and G).
There should be a point where it connects. Just pop it out and remove the rail.

Remove the C key. This will make the next steps easier to complete .

On the same rail, remove the rest of the keys (B flat and G).

There should be a point where it connects. Just pop it out and remove the rail.

Step 14

The next step is to loosen the screw that holds the inline G keys.
Same drill: pull out the rod that holds it together.
There are a few rods involved in this disassembly. To avoid confusion, place them aside in an order that will remind you how to put them back.

The next step is to loosen the screw that holds the inline G keys.

Same drill: pull out the rod that holds it together.

There are a few rods involved in this disassembly. To avoid confusion, place them aside in an order that will remind you how to put them back.

Step 15

To make the removal of the inline G keys easier, use tweezers to move the spring out of position.
The spring will hang loose for now.

To make the removal of the inline G keys easier, use tweezers to move the spring out of position.

The spring will hang loose for now.

Step 16

The inline G keys should come out easily.
Now, loosen the rod connected to the G# lever.

The inline G keys should come out easily.

Now, loosen the rod connected to the G# lever.

Step 17

This is the most difficult rod to remove, so to make it a little easier on yourself, get the spring out of the way by moving it up into the groove.
Don’t worry about bending the spring too much. If it loses it’s original tension, it can be easily be corrected by stretching it in the opposite direction.

This is the most difficult rod to remove, so to make it a little easier on yourself, get the spring out of the way by moving it up into the groove.

Don’t worry about bending the spring too much. If it loses it’s original tension, it can be easily be corrected by stretching it in the opposite direction.

Step 18

Be careful when removing this rod! The spring opposing your direction of motion means business! You can use your free hand to hold it out of the way if necessary.
Carefully slide the rod out.

Be careful when removing this rod! The spring opposing your direction of motion means business! You can use your free hand to hold it out of the way if necessary.

Carefully slide the rod out.

Step 19

The G# lever should come out easily.
This is the last key to be removed from the body.
If you do not have a misaligned key on the foot joint, skip step 20 and step 21.

The G# lever should come out easily.

This is the last key to be removed from the body.

If you do not have a misaligned key on the foot joint, skip step 20 and step 21.

Step 20

              Removing Keys from the Foot Joint

Disassembling the foot joint is simple. Loosen the screw at the end of the rail and pull out the long rod holding it all together.
This is by far the longest rod in the flute!

Disassembling the foot joint is simple. Loosen the screw at the end of the rail and pull out the long rod holding it all together.

This is by far the longest rod in the flute!

Step 21

When you pull out the rod, everything will fall apart. This is okay, it is what is supposed to happen. Just be sure not to lose any parts in the process!

When you pull out the rod, everything will fall apart. This is okay, it is what is supposed to happen. Just be sure not to lose any parts in the process!

Step 22

              Repairing the Finger Key

Once you’ve been able to remove the malfunctioning finger key, it is time to take it apart.
Be careful removing the screw, it is tiny, as well as nonmagnetic. It is very easy to lose!

Once you’ve been able to remove the malfunctioning finger key, it is time to take it apart.

Be careful removing the screw, it is tiny, as well as nonmagnetic. It is very easy to lose!

Step 23

Using the screwdriver, gently lift the pad out of the cup.
Behind the pad there will most likely be a couple paper shims that were placed there previously.
The items laid out left to right go in the cup from bottom to top, respectively.

Using the screwdriver, gently lift the pad out of the cup.

Behind the pad there will most likely be a couple paper shims that were placed there previously.

The items laid out left to right go in the cup from bottom to top, respectively.

Step 24

The amount of additional paper shims you may need ultimately depends on the condition of the repair.
Using scissors, cut out about a third of a new paper shim.

The amount of additional paper shims you may need ultimately depends on the condition of the repair.

Using scissors, cut out about a third of a new paper shim.

Step 25

Place the cut paper shim back into the cup after the supporting, whole shims. You may need to place more than one cut paper shim if the misalignment is more severe.
Important: Be sure that the orientation of the cut shim aligns with the mark made on the metal of the cup.
If your repaired key is located only on the body, skip ahead to step 29.

Place the cut paper shim back into the cup after the supporting, whole shims. You may need to place more than one cut paper shim if the misalignment is more severe.

Important: Be sure that the orientation of the cut shim aligns with the mark made on the metal of the cup.

If your repaired key is located only on the body, skip ahead to step 29.

Step 26

              Reassembly of the Foot Joint

For the reassembly of the foot joint, the keys go back in this order:
C roller.
B roller.
This part has a “gizmo,” which is a distinct tab attached to the roller.
C# touch.
D# touch (pinky key).

For the reassembly of the foot joint, the keys go back in this order:

C roller.

B roller.

This part has a “gizmo,” which is a distinct tab attached to the roller.

C# touch.

D# touch (pinky key).

Step 27

It’s a bit tricky trying to keep all the pieces lined up when inserting the rod.
It’s a bit easier to slide it in one section at a time, rather than trying to do them all in one shot.

It’s a bit tricky trying to keep all the pieces lined up when inserting the rod.

It’s a bit easier to slide it in one section at a time, rather than trying to do them all in one shot.

Step 28

You’ll notice that all the keys aren’t open. This is because the springs aren’t in the proper place.
To fix this, use the ridged tweezers to grab the spring and put it behind the peg.
You may need to wrestle the spring a little bit. Try your best not to scratch the silver plating of the flute with the tweezers.
If your repaired key is located only on the foot joint, skip ahead to step 40.

You’ll notice that all the keys aren’t open. This is because the springs aren’t in the proper place.

To fix this, use the ridged tweezers to grab the spring and put it behind the peg.

You may need to wrestle the spring a little bit. Try your best not to scratch the silver plating of the flute with the tweezers.

If your repaired key is located only on the foot joint, skip ahead to step 40.

Step 29

              Reassembly of the Body

When putting the G# lever back in place, make sure its spring is loaded against the post on the right.
Follow the disassembly directions in reverse order, as well as these steps to ensure that all the springs are put back in place. The flute doesn’t need to be taken apart a second time.

When putting the G# lever back in place, make sure its spring is loaded against the post on the right.

Follow the disassembly directions in reverse order, as well as these steps to ensure that all the springs are put back in place. The flute doesn’t need to be taken apart a second time.

Step 30

After putting back the inline G keys, make sure to put back the spring behind the peg.
This is the only spring you removed during disassembly.

After putting back the inline G keys, make sure to put back the spring behind the peg.

This is the only spring you removed during disassembly.

Step 31

This is the spring by the C key.
Notice that the spring is in front of the metal groove.
Use the tweezers to put the spring behind it and in the groove.

This is the spring by the C key.

Notice that the spring is in front of the metal groove.

Use the tweezers to put the spring behind it and in the groove.

Step 32

This is the spring of the B flat key (next to the C key).
Again, this spring needs to go behind the small plate, into a little slot.

This is the spring of the B flat key (next to the C key).

Again, this spring needs to go behind the small plate, into a little slot.

Step 33

This spring needs to be put back behind its peg.
For reference, that plate with the spring in its groove is the spring that was fixed in the previous step.

This spring needs to be put back behind its peg.

For reference, that plate with the spring in its groove is the spring that was fixed in the previous step.

Step 34

If you did not remove the B tab, skip this step.
Align the two separate tabs so that the rod fits back through.
Make sure that the tip at the end of the skinny tab returns under its corresponding strip of metal.

If you did not remove the B tab, skip this step.

Align the two separate tabs so that the rod fits back through.

Make sure that the tip at the end of the skinny tab returns under its corresponding strip of metal.

Step 35

In order for the reassembly to work for this piece, remember to put the trill keys under the corresponding springs.
Make sure the rail is rejoined at that point.
That tab fits behind the one fixed there.

In order for the reassembly to work for this piece, remember to put the trill keys under the corresponding springs.

Make sure the rail is rejoined at that point.

That tab fits behind the one fixed there.

Step 36

After putting the screws back, fix the springs that connect to the trill keys.
It will be easier if you do the top one first.

After putting the screws back, fix the springs that connect to the trill keys.

It will be easier if you do the top one first.

Step 37

These are the springs behind the F and E finger keys.
The top spring goes behind the peg.

These are the springs behind the F and E finger keys.

The top spring goes behind the peg.

Step 38

The bottom spring goes behind the small plate in a groove.

The bottom spring goes behind the small plate in a groove.

Step 39

This spring between the F and E keys isn’t hard to reach. Fit it in the small groove.
The spring between the E and D keys goes behind a small peg.

This spring between the F and E keys isn’t hard to reach. Fit it in the small groove.

The spring between the E and D keys goes behind a small peg.

Step 40

              Adjusting the Tension in Finger Keys

When putting your flute back together, some keys may seem either too easy or to hard to press. This is related to the tightness of the screws in the rails, as well as small screws between finger keys that have not yet been mentioned.
The tighter the screw, the more finger keys that will resist being closed.
To adjust the G# lever, change the tightness in the corresponding screw in the railing.
To adjust the inline G keys, play with the screw in the attached rail on top of the G# lever railing.
The B tab on the other side of the flute is also adjusted in this fashion.
This screw, as well as the next two screws in this step, do not hold anything together. They act as modifiers that adjust the synchronization of connected keys not attached to a rod backbone.
This alters the F and F# pair.
This screw changes the coordination of the D and F# keys.

When putting your flute back together, some keys may seem either too easy or to hard to press. This is related to the tightness of the screws in the rails, as well as small screws between finger keys that have not yet been mentioned.

The tighter the screw, the more finger keys that will resist being closed.

To adjust the G# lever, change the tightness in the corresponding screw in the railing.

To adjust the inline G keys, play with the screw in the attached rail on top of the G# lever railing.

The B tab on the other side of the flute is also adjusted in this fashion.

This screw, as well as the next two screws in this step, do not hold anything together. They act as modifiers that adjust the synchronization of connected keys not attached to a rod backbone.

This alters the F and F# pair.

This screw changes the coordination of the D and F# keys.

Step 41

              Fixing Sticky Keys

When practicing the flute for a good amount of time, finger keys often get sticky. This can affect the time it takes for the pressed key to return to its original open position, something fast playing musicians can’t afford.
Put an oil absorbing sheet under the sticky key and lightly press down on the sheet.
Release and gently remove the sheet.
DO NOT pull the sheet out like the rolling paper. This could lead to misalignment of the felt pad.
When cleaning the silver plating on the flute, do not wipe underneath the keys. Similarly, this could also lead to damage of the felt pads.
You’d be amazed by the amount of grime you might find trapped in the keys. Oil absorbing sheets work best to get the moisture out of the keys, in addition to the grime.
Dollar bills also can work, but not everyone has that kind of money.

When practicing the flute for a good amount of time, finger keys often get sticky. This can affect the time it takes for the pressed key to return to its original open position, something fast playing musicians can’t afford.

Put an oil absorbing sheet under the sticky key and lightly press down on the sheet.

Release and gently remove the sheet.

DO NOT pull the sheet out like the rolling paper. This could lead to misalignment of the felt pad.

When cleaning the silver plating on the flute, do not wipe underneath the keys. Similarly, this could also lead to damage of the felt pads.

You’d be amazed by the amount of grime you might find trapped in the keys. Oil absorbing sheets work best to get the moisture out of the keys, in addition to the grime.

Dollar bills also can work, but not everyone has that kind of money.

Step 42

              Fixing a Finger Key with a Missing Felt Pad

In the case that you are missing a felt pad entirely (just a bare cup), you can still fix your flute temporarily.
Cut a small strip of teflon tape (about 4" )
Holding both ends, slip the tape under the key with the missing felt pad. It’s quite the surgery, but manageable.
Make sure the part where the key makes contact with the body is fully covered.
With the remaining tape, twist it together at the top to hold it in place.
This is a temporary fix, but works perfectly.

In the case that you are missing a felt pad entirely (just a bare cup), you can still fix your flute temporarily.

Cut a small strip of teflon tape (about 4" )

Holding both ends, slip the tape under the key with the missing felt pad. It’s quite the surgery, but manageable.

Make sure the part where the key makes contact with the body is fully covered.

With the remaining tape, twist it together at the top to hold it in place.

This is a temporary fix, but works perfectly.

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                    Luke Williams

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