Foam for pads?

Irish Flute
1

I know this has been addressed before, but I am just wondering about the type of foam and the procedure for repadding using this technique. Thanks,
Arbo

2

high density floatation foam

any store dealing with kayak or canoe supplies will have it.

procedure depends on the type of key cup

3

David, it is for the Hudson Pratten.
Arbo

4

Hi,
I like to use the foam that they sell at Home Depot, for insulating the switch and outlet plates. It is white and just the right thickness.
I just glue it on with liquid shellac pad glue.

5

Hey Arbo,

I’ve been using the EVA craft foam sheets. They are 2-3mm in thickness and come in an exciting rainbow of colors! :astonished: Like Hot Pink, Lime Green and Fluorescent Orange …

OK, so they also have White, Black, Grey, Brown and Tan…

I then use a cheap set of hollow punches to cut the disks.

I use a thick piece of leather for the backing and then place the foam sheet over it and then using just my hands and twisting motion cut out an ample supply of misc. sized foam buttons.

I glue the foam buttons into the clean cups with hot-melt glue. If you work fast to seat the pads while the glue is still hot it is easy to float the pads and get a good seal. Plus if you use to much/little glue and don’t get the touches just the way you want them, the pads & glue are easy to remove once the glue has cooled. Bit of an itterative process till you get it right.

6

Arbo
any of the above responses will work. I’ve used the craft foam on the flatter cups.
the floatation foam works well when you need to regulate the thickness yourself.
dm

7

Another alternative is molded silicon pads which I’ve used successfully.
Cheers
Graeme

8

But please do not use CA glue to fill the key cups, like one of the flute makers love to do! It is a bear to clean out later! I fill hte key cup with melted shellac, then later if you want to revert back to pillow pads, you can easily melt the stuff out. I guess hot melt would be reversable too. I haven’t used the silicone pads, but they would work fine, I just don’t like the look of them.

9

So where does one get those nifty hole punches? A leather tool place perhaps?

Thanks,
Jay

10

HOLLOW PUNCHES

Harbor Freight: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=3838

Grizzly Industrial: http://www.grizzly.com/products/6-pc-Hollow-Punch-Set/G9845

Some Automotive Parts Stores stock them, they are used for cutting gaskets.