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Position:Home>Performing Arts> Flute Problem?Question: Flute Problem!? My cork on the headjoint somehow shrunk and I can't get it to go back in and play!. I need my flute for my High School band camp coming up in exactly 1 week!. What should I do!? I am only 14!. My mom doesn't know what happened either even though she played the flute mostly her whole life!. What should I do!?!?
ThxWww@QuestionHome@Com Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: Hello SM!. Flute teacher here!.!.!. and I have done a good deal of minor flute repairs including the one you are concerned about!. Yes, you can take your flute in to have the cork replaced and it really is not a big deal, but there is something you can do until you have time to take it in!. Follow these steps: 1, Never push the headjoint cork through the top of the headjoint!.!.!.!. only through the bottom!. 2!. Unscrew the crown and push the cork assembly through the bottom of the flute!. 3!. Your mom is going to have to help you!. 4!. In a small metal pot filled with water!.!.!. bring to a rolling boil and turn off!. 5!. Drop the cork assembly!.!.!. which should include the screw going though the cork!.!.!.!. into the hot water!. 6!. Let it soak in the water until it cools and then remove!. 7!. Repeat the process but this time leave the cork in over night!. 8!. In the morning take out the cork and sort of squeeze it with a towel!. Then lay it out to completely dry!.!.!. maybe 10-12 hours!. 9!. After it is completely dry, use your tuning rod to push the cork back up through the headjoint from the bottom (again!.!. not through the top as you will damage the metal)!. It is going to be a tight fit, but that is what you are wanting to do!.!. make it tight like it was!. What you have done is plump the cork back up!. When they dry out!.!. they also shrink up!.!.!. and this procedure puts moisture back into the cork so that it regains is original size!. Give that a try!.!.!.!. that is what I do when I don't have a cork on hand and it works!.!.!. as long as you let the cork completely dry back out before inserting into the head!. Hope I was able to give you something to try and a brand new skill at replacing a headjoint cork!. Thanks for reading!.Www@QuestionHome@Com Like pp said, cork replacement is not a big deal!. If you don't know where to go, or don't have time before band camp, just let your band director know that you need the cork replaced in the head joint so that he/she knows what's going on!. There may be someone on staff who could do it, if you're renting your flute, you may be able to get it repaired by your music rep for free, or your band director may be able to supply you with a loaner or school instrument while yours is out of commission!.Www@QuestionHome@Com Either take it to a repaiman to have him replace the cork!.!.!.!.!.it should not be more than $25 so dont let him/her overcharge you!. But if you cant wait that long to get it fixed!.!.simply take a thin piece of paper and wrap it around the cork adn the fasten it onto the headjoint!. the extra thickness of the paper should keep it in place for the time being!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.And dont worry it shouldn't affect the tuning!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.But when you have the time take it to a repairman!.Www@QuestionHome@Com You need to take to repairmen, and change the cork, that′s it, not a big deal, the cork′s life is usually five years, after that you have to check it out, because it can get wasted or worse, get fungus!!!. be careful!.Www@QuestionHome@Com |