Noticed the other day that the cork on the lower tenon of my Olwell keyless is missing a piece here and there. Is it easy to recork a tenon? Doesn’t seem to be leaking though. Where does one get hold of thin sheets of cork?
I think it’s really easy, however I’m using my lathe for sanding the cork down evenly to fit the socket…never tried it by hand.
Cork sheets: I get mine at http://www.fmb-direkt.de/en/home/, and http://www.dawkes.co.uk sells them, too (though smaller). Both will send to Sweden, but I’m not aware of a supplier up there, sorry.
You might find some small pieces of cork sheet at a flooring/lineoleum shop.
Thanks Gabriel & Kevin - I’ll look into both suggestions.
Local shops that sell/repair band instruments often have cork on hand, too. It’s not hard even without a lathe. Fine sandpaper or a dremmel will work fine.
Band instrument repairers can even recork the tenons for you 
“Band instrument repairers can even recork the tenons for you .” Cathy
Yes, I try to do my own maintenance though. So far salt spoon pads and freeing up a stuck slide. The Olwell isn’t leaking so no hurry just yet. I’ll keep an eye on it.
Remember to bevel the cork before applying to tenons. Page 13:
http://www.davidbaileymusicstudio.com/pdf/RepairProceduresHandbook.pdf
Remember to bevel the cork before applying to tenons. Page 13:
http://www.davidbaileymusicstudio.com/pdf/RepairProceduresHandbook.pdf
Thanks again Kevin for that link. The Complete Woodwind Repair Manual / Reg Thorpe seems interesting too.
Hi,
a really good instruction video from the US army:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOXEG56QUgY
The other videos about repair work are worth watching too.
I get my sheet cork material from thomann.de
Good video there Lese - I’ll order a sheet of cork too from Thomanns 
they have different thicknesses 0,5 to 2,5 mm
Tom, you can also just thread the joint with cotton thread. Or whatever is at hand, really. Takes about ten minutes to thread a joint, grease it (and/or wax it), try it, then either add thread winding if it’s loose or take some of it away if it’s too tight. Just don’t wind it so tight that it chokes the tenon, or so loose that the joint slips or leaks. This is on the cutting edge of eighteenth century technology. What the old guys did. It isn’t rocket science.
Must be socket science
Hello David, I thought about using thread, the easiest solution of course, but want to learn to cork the tenon to keep to the original Olwellian specifications. I don’t know why Pat prefers cork to thread though? As said the flute isn’t leaking yet so there’s time to order a sheet of cork.
‘Olwellian’. I like that!
Yes! Big Brother is watching you!
Bob
Both cork and thread wrapping have their merits. But…
“All tenon wrappings are equal, but some are more equal than others.”
Cork lappings are easier to get snug and (air)tight, but are not too user-serviceable. The risk of cracking sockets is low. They allow more shrinkage or swelling before getting too tight or loose than thread lappings. Risk of constricting tenons is low. They easily accomodate oval sockets and/or tenons.
Thread lappings are more difficult to get snug and (air)tight, but are easily user-serviceable. The risk of cracking sockets is high, if the lapping is not made carefully. Less forgiving to changing tenon dimensions. Risk of constricting tenons is high. Accomodating oval sockets and/or tenons is very difficult.
Both work, it’s a matter of taste.