Tools and Supplies for Band Directors
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!
-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)
(I like Gem brand best but I’m a razorblade 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)
-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:
-Valentino greenbacks .110 thickness (but use a backing and buy undersized)
-Valentino masters pads for clarinets (already have a backing but more $$)
Oboes use cork pads, and it’s typically not reasonable to expect a band director to change a cork pad. Sometimes a Valentino can be used on the larger keys.
Bassoons use white leather kidskin pads, ($$) 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 razorblade 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.