Have you ever experienced pads randomly sticking closed? It’s so annoying - I’ve recently had a handful of students with the same issue: a sticky C# pad, and it’s really disorienting when they play scales with Db or C#. Sometimes the pad fails to lift at all and just a D natural sounds!
For chronically sticky pads, you’ll need to visit your local oboe repairperson, but I have some simple fixes you can try while you wait for an appointment.
1. Clean the pad/tone hole
If the sticky pad is somewhere close to the end of a rod, you could take the key off and clean the pad/tone hole while disassembled. CAUTION If you haven’t taken your oboe apart and put it back together successfully before, don’t do this. (I’m looking at you, students under 18!) If you don’t know how to balance the adjustment screws, you probably shouldn’t take your oboe apart.
You can also carefully inspect and clean the tone hole with isopropyl alcohol, a square of thick paper towel and pliers. Cut the paper towel so it’s just bigger than the pad, soak it with alcohol, and carefully slide it under the pad. Press the pad down, then prop the pad open until the alcohol fully evaporates. This can dislodge any debris from the pad or top of hole.
The safer way to clean the pad/tone hole: Insert a clean/dry piece of cigarette paper under the pad, press the pad down gently and pull the cigarette paper out. This can dislodge any debris from the pad or top of hole.
2. Lubricate the pad/tone hole
With Graphite: Color a fresh piece of cigarette paper with a regular pencil. Insert the paper graphite-side-up under the pad, press the pad gently down with your finger and pull the paper out. This should coat the pad with a light layer of graphite. Then flip the paper graphite-side-down and insert it again. Press the pad gently down with your finger and pull the paper out, coating the tone hole with a light layer of graphite. (You can repeat this process a couple of times in each direction)
With Money: Grab a dollar bill of any denomination - ideally a bill that has been in circulation for a while, NOT a crisp/new bill. Insert the bill under the sticky pad, gently press the pad down with your finger and pull the bill out. Repeat a few times to apply a layer of finger oil onto the pad as a lubricant.
3. Prop the pad open in the case
Sometime sticky pads are caused by moisture sitting under the pad while it’s in the case. Use a small piece of thin cardboard to prop the pad open while it’s in the case to allow the pad and tone hole to fully dry out. (See last week’s newsletter for an image of what that might look like)
4. Get your instrument repaired
If all this fails, it could be that the spring for the key is old and not strong enough to lift it anymore, which naturally happens over time and with use.
Your key could also be binding meaning the metal rod is getting stuck on the metal post. This could happen if the rod or key is slightly bent out of shape, or if the posts have moved, or if there’s too much “play” in your keys.
Both these issues are best addressed by an oboe repair specialist! If you don’t have an oboe repair specialist (NOT your average music store repair person), get in touch with me and I can try to direct you to someone in your area. If I don’t know someone, I probably know someone who knows someone.
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