Pad putty?

tictactux

tictactux

Distinguished Member
Distinguished Member
I'm overhauling a Noblet Artist, and when I changed the pads I noticed they have been glued in with some kind of hot-melt window putty. It's not the first time I see this, especially with clarinets of that time period. Sometimes it's greenish, sometime whitish, but always that putty-like substance.

Any idea what this might be? I'm just curious...
 
Ben,
Are you talking about french cement. In solid form it looks yellowish and solid.
Also regular shellac could have been used

Those two methods are still used today.

Alot of my "upper end" clientele prefer french cement due to the solid backing it gives ... and they can tell the difference too.

nowadays alot of techs use hot stick-type glues which I don't use. I'm still "old school".
 
Below
french cement installed (cooled with no pad) on the side trill Bb key
left - a small container of some broken up and pulverized FrenchCement

http://www.ClarinetPerfection.com/steve/FrenchCement.jpg
FrenchCement.jpg
 
I tried hot glue on one horn, but I'm going back to stick shellac. It is a lot easier to work with in my opinion, and it doesn't feel as squishy when played.
 
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