Someone on the list recommended the use of neoprene rubber for regulator keys. I went hunting today and found a friendly owner of a scuba shop who gave me a small piece to experiment with.
I can’t believe the difference! My full set (Langan chanter/Ginsburg drones+regs) is completely airtight for the first time. It makes everything so much easier to play that I’m completely shocked.
The neoprene was about 3mm in thickness which works fine for the bass and baritone regs. I will have to go hunting again for a thinner piece (1-2mm) for the tenor regulator tomorrow in order to give the proper clearance.
So I guess my point is: Don’t mess with leather anymore! Get the good stuff and spare yourself the agony!
Paul Gribbon
You can always cut the thicker stuff in half. I think you can cut neoprene rubber, right? It’s softer than steel I believe.
Some might have some remarks about rubber’s inevitable tendency to decay, especially from airborne pollutants and the like. Ted Anderson recommends white water kayak lining, which is an approach discovered by Rod Cameron, who makes $10,000 flutes and the like.
Something else that will get those regs airtight is to sharpen the end of the tuning pins down to a point, and then ram them through the cork of the end cap, without drilling a pilot hole etc. This will make the pins very airtight - so tight they will be difficult to pull out; you’ll need to grease the pins a bit to get them to move easily.
Just an update on the use of neoprene for regulator pads.
I left the thicker (3mm) rubber pads on the tenor regulator overnight and the rubber compressed down quite nicely. So it looks like I won’t have to go looking for a source of thinner neoprene after all.
I’m not sure who first suggested it’s use here on the uilleann forum but whoever you are…THANKS!
Paul Gribbon