Thank you, Tonehole for your kind comments.
Patience and keeping a tab on every tiny detail is essential I feel.
Since I started my DIY woodwind repair on saxophones I think the few flutes (and clarinets) I’ve restored seem so uncomplicated and orderly by comparision!
With saxes there are a few dozen identical point screws, and because of metal on metal wear and the ‘biting’ design of pivot screws each has its unique worn-in place on the keywork. Mistakenly interchanging them can be disastrous - loose fitting or too tight leading to leaks and unreliable or sticky key action.
This Radcliff’s Model and Boehm systems are almost as finicky in their numerous keycup and trills, etc. so I take the same dilligence. Most DIY restorers would I’m sure.
My latest project is a Rudall Carte & Co.Boehm system:
Admittedly it needs a little work I can’t do myself (silver soldering the G# touchpiece to reverse an open G# conversion), but my first thought after counting and numbering its screws and rods was how simple and neatly arranged the Boehm system was compared with the Radcliff’s Model, not mention a saxophone!
The Boehm flute is definitely a tidy arrangement.
Besides playing (the Radcliff here is now my main instrument), I get a lot of pleasure cleaning and restoring these instruments. It’s almost relaxation.
Cheers,
Vaughan 