Tenon cork replacement

Irish Flute
1

I live in the usa in Tennessee. I need to replace the tendon cork on a Christman and a Doyle. Any suggestions on sources for the cork. I found a great how to. Any suggestions as well from the group.

Thanks.

2

Do you have any music stores around you? Many shops do some basic repair and have cork on hand.

Eric

3

I have purchased parts in the past from both Votaw Tool Company (http://www.votawtool.com/index.asp) and JL Smith (http://www.jlsmithco.com/) and been happy with the service from both of them.

4

Thanks from me too!
I need to do this with a couple of “odd keyed” flutes I have and want to acquire the skills and experience needed anyway.
I’d found Votaw already via Google search.
Good to know both are viable sources.

Question: what thickness would we want, for a flute that had been thread wrapped previously?

5

I had purchased parts for something that I was building, so I can’t really recommend a thickness. You might try the support at JL Smith, or there are a few guidelines in http://www.davidbaileymusicstudio.com/pdf/RepairProceduresHandbook.pdf

Good luck!

6

Thanks Brent.

I had already downloaded the David Bailey guide for band instruments, but was looking to see if others had insights that extended beyond this, for wooden flutes previously fitted with thread-wrapped tenons. You can always smooth or sandpaper down some greater thickness than is needed, but it’s very good to get into the right general ballpark initially…plus the presumed easier job of securing thinner layers vs thicker ones due to stiffness.

Sensible choices seem to be 0.4, 0.8, 1.2, 1.6, 2.4 mm. With thicker options too.
My caliper measurements were inclining me toward the thinnest option.
But I don’t want to get it wrong on the short side!

Help please, if you’ve done this or are a flutemaker/repairer.

7

:slight_smile:

I found this article that is very helpful.

http://bretpimentel.com/do-it-yourself-replace-a-tenon-cork/

and here for supplies. It also has a great article on tendon replacement.

http://musicmedic.com/

Finally, my teacher uses the 1/16 inch sheet.

Hope this helps. Thanks so far for all of your input so far.

-Rob Robison aka skyspirit

ps sorry for the double post. :smiley:

8

I get mine at the MusicMedic or www.ferreestools.com :sunglasses:

9

My supplier http://www.windcraft.co.uk/

10

If you get it too thin it will compress with the pressure of the socket and become loose after some time. If it’s too thin you can still sand down the excess…