I recently obtained a no-name German 8-key blackwood flute with a lined headjoint. Dumb question: were these things generally made with a tuning slide? If so, mine isn’t just stuck, it’s now locked after moving it about 1/8". Or is the lining tube supposed to be wedged in the second joint? Read the Terry McGee article but I haven’t resorted to heat or a mandrel. I want to be sure before trying more forceful methods. TIA.
It is stuck.. It is not suppossed to be like that… The best way to free it is like Terry said, with heat. You could try steaming it. I am a fan of the steamer method, as I use my Expresso machine, steam a little, make another latte, steam a little…
Thanks! Now all I need is some biscotti.
Unfortunately, steaming didn’t work for me, but I found something else…(Click on thumbnail to enlarge).
When I finally liberated the tuning slide, it seemed that it was covered in a thick grease, like the grime covering one’s car engine, but only thicker. No wonder solvents couldn’t get in there! I got my Husky wrenches from the Home Depot today and immediately got to work…A bit of Brasso really cleaned things up. Click thumbnail to enlarge.
Now the slide is almost silky smooth without any added grease (I’ll added vaseline when I’m done).
The upper part of the slide/lining already has nicks, presumably to help hold the glue. I’ll be using 5 minute epoxy to remount the headjoint back on to the slide. Any advice before I do this? TIA.
Good Work!
I will have to pick up some Husky strap wrenches,looks like just the ticket.
Make sure the liner is not to tight in the head when re-inserting it, if it is, you might wnat to sand the bore first to releave the pressure. Make sure to keep the glue away from the area where the female slide enters the head.
Good luck!
Thanks again Jon! Yeah, my thought exactly. I’ll give a very very light sanding to the bore to remove some of the old glue and just the slightest amount of wood (see below). I would think roughing it up a wee bit with a coarser grit will allow the epoxy to take better. The entire flute has been sitting around at 50 percent relative humidity for the last couple of weeks.
I should mention that in my first attempt to unjam the slide, the headjoint slid right off first. I guess this was fortuitous as it made it easier to repair a crack that ran through the embouchure hole. Now the crack is practically invisible. 