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Assembly:When assembling the flute hold non-keyed parts (the barrel and the bottom of the foot). The flute tenons work by friction and should not use lubrication of any kind. The embouchure hole should center with the C key and the D post on the foot should center in the D tone hole on the body.
Maintenance :Please do not use lotion silver polishes. They get into the mechanisms and on the pads, creating a mess as well as padding problems. Use a polishing cloth if a polished finish is desired. If you use a treated polishing cloth for any finish make sure it is for the proper finish. For example, brass cloths can scratch and harm silver finished flutes. One of the best ways to keep your instrument finish looking nice is to wipe off your fingerprints after every use. A clean non-treated cotton cloth works well for this.Use an absorbent (preferably cotton) cloth to clean out the moisture before you return your instrument to its case. Removing the moisture before putting the instrument away will decrease the wear and tear on the pads. If you own a "shove-it" do not put it in your instrument until you have used a drop-swab. The "pad savers" only save the pads if you remove the moisture from the instrument first. If you do not dry the instrument before storing it with a "shove-it" or "pad saver" it will cause more harm than good because the moisture is directly next to the pads. This also causes fuzz to get everywhere inside the instrument mechanizm, which can prevent pads from sealing and keys from moving freely. Occasionally you should check your head cork placement. Use your tuning/cleaning rod; the line should be centered in the embouchure hole. Please do not try to adjust the cork yourself. Store your instrument in its case when not in use. This will prevent any excessive tarnishing and lower the risk of being dropped, dented or knocked over. It is highly recommended that your instrument be taken to a professional repair technician at least once a year for general maintenance and cleaning. Doing so will prevent costly repairs that arise from lack of professional repair attention. A qualified technician can often discover a problem that you have learned how to overlook, play through or are not aware of.
Case:Place the case on a flat, stable surface before opening or attempting to remove the instrument.Do not set anything on top of an instrument in its case. This means sheet music! Damage occurs easily when items are set on the instrument and the case closed. Woodwind keys bend easily when anything is set on the instrument and the case forced to close. Make sure the case is secure. Check all the hinges, latches, and handles to see if they are solidly fastened to the case and they close the case securely. Make sure that the instrument does not move around inside the case. Please do not sit, rest your feet on, or otherwise apply pressure to the outside of an instrument case. This can damage your case so that it does not properly protect the instrument. Carry the case so that if it does open accidently, it will open toward your body, not to the ground. Also make sure that you have a name tag that clearly identifies you as the instrument owner. Keep your instrument serial number in a safe place in case the instrument is lost or accidentially switched or stolen. The serial number is a great resource in recovering your instrument.
Emergencies:In case of a repair emergency, please avoid home repair especially glue, solder and adhesives. Use dental floss, Teflon (plumber's) tape, or something items that will be easily removed when the instrument is properly repaired. Super-glue will make a mess if a solder joint breaks. Tape adhesive can create more of a mess than the temporary repair is worth.Also a word of caution, rubber bands can eat silver plate, so it is best to avoid any use of rubber bands on silver instruments. Never use pliers or hammers on your instrument. Improper use of household tools is a common cause of unnecessary damage to an instrument. Every year we see the most serious instrument repairs are the direct result of home repairs being made by the child or parent. Please seek professional assistance! Our repair shop fixes most instruments within two weeks. Our normal repair cost is under $30 dollars. |
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