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| Welcome to J.L.Smith & Co. |
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Welcome To J.L. Smith & Co. the innovator in woodwind and brass instrument repair supplies, parts, and tools since 1991. Our website is here to supply you with loads of helpful information on our products, as well as providing useful repair guidance and other valuable resources. Our online store will make it easy to place and track your orders.
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| News from the workshop |
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We’ve seen a lot of brand new flutes that have head cork issues.
Of major note is a trend towards some very poor quality cork being used. We see that a lot of these cheap corks absorb water and begin to rot. This certainly creates performance problems. I have an additional concern that it may create possibly health issues from the growth of mold or bacteria.
At issue is that if the cork can absorb water, it is also leaking air. If the moisture from the breath gets past the cork plate, so does the air. If the air is getting up past the plate, it is leaking. Even if the air doesn’t escape the North end of the headjoint, it is leaking into the cork. To perform its best, the headjoint needs to seal at the cork plate, not at some undetermined place further up the head.
Please don’t take the headcork for granted. Check it on each and every flute you service. This will only take a minute, and will improve the consistency of the flute work that leaves your shop.
You can easily remove and reinstall the cork with our 227023 TOOL. The rotted corks can be squeezed between the fingers at the Southern end. Replace any rotted cork, or any cork that shows water stains North of the cork plate. <more...>
If you’ve had customers complaining of intermittent performance problems (pitch, response and so forth) with their flute, consider that the flute will begin to perform better once it is “warmed up”. That is explained. Once the cork fills up with condensation from the breath, it now seals better and will perform differently.
See my chapter on headcorks from “Servicing The Flute”.
All the best,
Jeff
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| FEATURED PRODUCT |
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Flute Key Pin Tool
Our flute pin remover is designed to make an often tricky job more manageable, with a spring loaded ball to hold a punch in place, allowing both hands free to hold the key and hammer. The tool comes with 4 anvils and 2 punches: 1 point and 1 concave. We also include an extra sleeve that guides a needle spring to push the pin completely through for certain instances. $136.50 |
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Sax Key Adjusting Lever
A versatile tool that will perform several functions necessary to properly set up a saxophone. The primary purpose of the tool is as a lever for making key to key adjustments by aligning. The tool allows a lot of control and leverage so that the user can make micro adjustments with ease. The tool is also a great 'hand saver' and it is more precise than aligning with direct finger pressure. $14.50 |
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Fl Head Joint Cork Tool Set
There are two tools, one for installing the cork and one for removing it. The shorter tool removes the cork carrier with gentle tapping on a solid surface. The longer tool's length can be adjusted to show the original cork location. After removing the cork carrier, the new cork can be installed to its former setting if desired. Both tools feature a stop that helps prevent hand pinching when installing and removing. $24.00 |
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