Week 15

After Thanksgiving we started working on flutes! We started by learning the regulation sequence followed by the venting and lost motion on a flute. There are more regulations on a flute than a clarinet, but they are easier to fix because the keys have regulation (adjustment) screws. Lost motion and venting are regulated by a foot cork touching the body. When working on regulation, lost motion and venting the first step is to establish the venting on the F key by adjusting the foot cork because this key controls venting for the lower stack and half of the upper stack. We also learned about pinned keys. Knock pins should be tapered and are in the B-flat key, D key (depending on the model), E key, F key, and trill keys. Pins should be removed on a clean, oil, and adjustment to make sure there is no rust in the key and to replace the old oil. Once they are removed the keys may be cleaned thoroughly and pins may need to be replaced depending on the situation. I replaced all of the pins on my project flute so that it would be easier for the next technician to work on.

Flute pin remover

Old pin in the D# trill lever

Pin replacement kit

Kit comes with reamers, new steel pins and a drill bit

Replacing the old pin with new steel

Other pinned keys where the pins were replaced

Close up of the D# trill lever. The pin still needs to be ground down