HI. I have an 8 key M&E Rudall copy in Rosewood. I live on Cape Cod and it is very humid right now. I oiled my flute today. I took the foot section apart,(normally I leave the two bottom sections assembled., b/c that is how it fits in my case.) My problem is, now that I have taken them apart, they don’t want to fit back together. I tried several times to lubricate the tenon and slide them together, but it just feels too tight. It is not the cork that is making it tight either, it is the wood rubbing against the wood. What should I do? Ordinarily it is a perfect fit, so I hesitate sanding it down a little. Any input or experience would be very helpful. Thank you.
Chayim, is it the case that the tenon will not even enter the socket? When wood absorbs water, it swells. But in a socket situation, the metal supporting ring prevents it swelling outwards, which it would naturally do, so it swells inwards. I’d suggest the most profitable place to start is sanding the wood inside the ring, at least until the (well greased) tenon can penetrate the first hurdle. Then you may want to proceed more slowly, trying to determine where the high spots are.
If you have or can get access to calipers, compare the diameters of the wood on each side of the tenon lapping. The tip should never be bigger than the shoulder. If it is, reduce the tip diameter before opening up the socket opening.
Terry
the tenon goes into the socket about 90% of the way, but the last little bit is so tight. I don’t want to force it in. If I were to sand anything I would think it would be the tip of the tenon? My fear in doing this though, is that after the humid weather passes that the joint would become wobbly. Do you think this would be a problem, or should I just go ahead and sand a little wood off the tenon/ socket. If so, what type/ grit paper would you recomend? Thank you.
If it goes in 90% of the way is that before or after the shoulder has entered the socket? That might suggest whether it is tip or shoulder that is jamming. Also, stop just before the shoulder enters the socket. If you now wobble the piece with the tenon - will it wobble or is it completely constrained by the socket?
Look closely at the wood on tip and shoulder too - often high spots that are jamming take on a glazed look.
We need to be sure it is the wood jamming and not that the lapping is too tight. If the lapping is too tight (but well greased), the joint can be tight but remains smooth in operation. If the wood is jamming, the joint is “snatchy” - it goes in up to a point but then really grabs, and is hard to get out again.
Don’t worry too much about the joint becoming loose if you sand the shoulder and tip - they should never contact the other section, the lapping does that.
I’m assuming in all of this that you have been oiling the flute according to the maker’s recommendations. If not, let the flute dry out for a few days (no playing!), oil it, let that dry and try again. If the joint comes good but then seizes again with playing, it confirms that there is not enough clearance.
Terry
Could be that the end of the tenon is absorbing water faster and swelling the outer ring. This can be prevented by applying a little CA glue to the end grain of the tenon. It is a little unusual to have this happen on the lower section, usually it only happens on the upper tenon.
It is definitely the wood grabbing. Micheal Cronnolly told me to sand a little off the tip. I don’t think it is swelling from being played though. I did have this problem with my top tenon, and i did seal it with a little super glue and I haven’t had any problems since. In this case, I think it is just the humidity here on the cape. Thanks everyone for your input. I will do what Terry said, and let it dry out a little more, and then sand a little off the tip.
I once spent a few nights in a cramped little self-catering holiday apartment in Arklow, Co. Wicklow (don’t ask). It was so damp in there that if you took a bath or shower it would actually rain in the bathroom. I remember the electricity was actually coin-op, which explained why the landlady handed me a stack of 50p’s right after I checked in (and relieved me of a ten-spot). She also made me a cup of ‘instant’ coffee, or so she thought; I gamely drank the cup of tepid water with stale grounds that she served me, being from the South. Poor old dear. Anyhoo, after a day or so, my Olwell was so wet that the tenon wouldn’t even enter into the socket, much less go all the way in. It wasn’t even close; wood-to-wood contact prevented assembly of the flute.
The 50p’s thing makes me think they weren’t into running the heat to drive out the damp. Cheers,
Rob