This is a list I put together for the NYCBOE band directors attending a seminar with me. If anyone else finds it useful that's great!
Tools and Supplies for Band Directors:
Tools:
- Culinary Torch - be sure to adjust the flame extra small
- Screwdrivers - 1.8mm and 2.5mm, plus 4mm for bass clarinet and bassoon
- Spring hook - I made you one!
- Pad slick
- Pliers that have smooth jaws
- Tweezers that are pointy
- Bench peg for sanding tenons
- Neoprene Plugs with hole and without hole to test pressure without putting your lips on the instrument! (The “with hole” link is sized for clarinet upper joint, without hole is a set.)
- Brass calipers for measuring tenon cork width, pad cups, and pad sizes
Supplies:
- Shellac or Glue Gun Glue (I like shellac best)
- Razor blades (I like Gem brand best but I’m a razor blade snob)
- Gel super glue (I like the Loctite Precision Pen best)
- Contact cement (in a small bottle, it needs to be thinned or replaced often)
- Key oil
- Bumper material
- Firm material – like tech cork ideally in .5, 1, and 1.5mm thicknesses
- Soft material – like synthetic felt (this link is for an assortment of thicknesses. You can also buy them Ala carte. .5 and 1mm thicknesses would be most useful)
- Other more mundane supplies: paper towel, q-tips, ruler.
Pads:
- Clarinets:
- Oboes use cork pads, and it’s typically not reasonable to expect a band director to change a cork pad. Sometimes a Valentino can be used on the larger keys.
- Bassoons use white leather kidskin pads, ($$) but sometimes a Valentino can be used on the smaller keys, especially on the wing joint.
Tenon Cork:
- Sheet cork in 1/16 and 3/32 thickness (I like natural cork best)
- Sanding Screen 320 grit is very efficient for sanding corks. Trim it with a razor blade or scissors to the width of the cork. It can be reused many times.
Supplies for temporary repairs “on the fly”
- Waxed dental floss (to tie a tenon cork back on)
- Saran wrap (to wrap around a torn skin pad)
- Sticky-tack and saran wrap or teflon tape (to replace a missing pad)
- Scotch tape (to tape off a missing pad, grossly leaking pad, or crack)
- Clear rubber bands (the type for hair) for temporary spring replacement
- Green velvet sticky pads
Note regarding vendors:
Most of the links on this page will take you to either JL Smith Co. or Amazon.com. There are lots of suppliers to the woodwind repairman, but some require a business license and others won’t sell pads in small quantities. JL Smith will sell pads in small quantities and has a website that is navigable even for the layperson.
Other suppliers for tools and supplies:
- Ferrees Tools, Inc. - Toolmaker for the wind repair trade. Also sells supplies like pads and corks.
- Allied Musical Supply - Tools and supplies, also OEM parts. Requires business license.
- Music Medic - Tools and supplies. Especially great for pad sets.
- Kraus Music Products - High end tools and supplies. Requires a business license, doesn’t take credit cards.
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