can anyone advise me how to deal with a loose tuning slide?
I have this problem with my lovely Hammy Pratten (which is otherwise a monster of an instrument). It was OK when I got it a month or two ago, possibly because it was well greased, but it worked loose over time. I applied some grease and this worked OK but it loosened again over a week or so to the extent that if there was no grease applied the head would fall off the barrell if turned upside down.
It is not so loose that there is any leakage or any play/movement in the joint but it is too loose for practical purposes.
I’m sure some of the more expert repair folks will chime in with a better alternate, but when I had a similar problem with my delrin M&E I removed all grease from the slide and gave it a very light coating with some bow string wax (archery, not fiddling). That worked very well for me. The wax didn’t harden, but added enough friction that the silde stayed in place unless I wanted to move it. I’m sure Hammy, if he signs on, will have good advice for you. Good luck.
In the brass instrument world, the first step is, as Latticino suggested, a heavier grease. One that is specifically made for slightly loose slides is Hetman’s Ultra Slide Grease. Hetman’s products are first rate and will not harm silver, nickel silver or brass.
If it gets really loose a good brass instrument repair person will have tools that will let them very slightly expand the inner stocking. The emphasis here would be on good repair person. If it gets to that point feel free to PM me with your location and I might be able to recommend someone.
This question seems to come up a couple of times a year.
The problem has been addressed, it seems, hundred of times.
Why not do a search on C&F?
My fix is simple and clean- just squeeze either the head tube or the tuning tube to put it about .0001 out of round.
This is a ten-second fix and will solve the problem.
I’ve not participated in any past discussions of this, so I’ll share how I solved my own loose tuning slide with a whistle, which has probably already been suggested: Take a spoon or something similar and slowly widen the “male” end of the tuning slide by pushing the spoon into the tube and turning it, a tiny bit at a time.
I strongly agree with Pat that you ought to just send it back to be adjusted by the maker. Why take the chance of tweeking it and messing it up? If you only bought it a few months ago, (new) from Hammy, than I am sure he will have no problem replacing the head or repairing the slide. But if you do a hack job yourself and mess it up, how will you fix it then? It will make it harder to resell in the future.
I second that. Just a short squeeze between your fingers, no tools needed, and not visibly changing the shape. The tube end thus squeezed will become ever so slightly oval, and introduces a slight friction resulting in perfect lasting mating.
Mark, if we meet up to get your German flute back to you in the next week or two, I’ll sort it for you if you haven’t already done it - but I second the advice to contact Hammy before you do anything else - just phone him!
thanks for all the advice, much as I thought (and have done with cheaper instruments before). Off to play with Kevin, Jean-Michelle and various Chiffers tomorrow, so I’ll gingerly figure a temporary fix to see me through the weekend.
PS. I should have said that the flute wasn’t new so I’m not suggesting that Hammy would be in any way accountable for it (great instrument).
Why even think of bothering Hammy for something like this?
How could you hack it?
As Hans (who has been playing for years) said, Just a short squeeze between your fingers, no tools needed, and not visibly changing the shape.
Why should anybody be afraid? Afraid of what?
And why would you want to crap up your instrument with grease when there’s no need to?
I have had very good luck with two flutes with loosish slides, by putting a thin smear of toilet ring seal wax (fresh from the package of course, not used!) on the mating surfaces. It seems to have the right combination of “stikumness” and “giveness” to keep things together and sealed, but also allow easy movement for adjustment.
I remember Hammy mentioning on the woodenflute list that he had started making flute slides a slightly looser fit since
some people were using odd kinds of lubricants which were causing the slides to jam…something about jammed if you do, jammed if you don’t, he said…
The grease you’re using may simply be too thin for this looser fit.
A silver slide should be kept perfectly clean, with no grease or wax at all.
Suggesting the use of grease or wax on a loose silver slide is bad advice.
be afraid 