Clarinet Key Work- refitting, Repair & More- band instrument repair- Ferree’s Tools- Wes Lee Music

In this episode, a dive into refitting keys on modern clarinets for good playing condition, and old school key fixes.
Tools used:
F81 swedging tool
D32L hinge tube shorten kit
D32A broaches
J20ss round pliers
N99 bench motor
D35 feeler gauge
F79 screwdrivers
F57 cutter
www.ferreestoolsinc.com
How can Wes Lee Music Repair help your instruments?
www.WesLeeMusic.com

[@scottlusk9429]

As a retired band teacher who worked in a school several hours drive from a repair shop. I did a lot of instrument repair on my own. Making a student's instrument function properly was a big deal when teaching beginners and intermediate students. A functioning horn is hard enough to play, but when the instrument is fighting you it will make even a good student want to quit. Thank you for doing the thoughtful work that you do! I am sure there are numerous band teachers and students who love the work that you do! Thank you!!!!!!

[@lwskiner]

I enjoy watching an artesian at work, knowledge and patience.

[@murraykriner9425]

Brilliant repair. Really dig that quick fix with the rod & sleeve on the open hole key. That was slick. Super job.

[@mirosllaw61]

Brilliant work !

[@grahammorgan9635]

Thanks Wes always a pleasure to watch a clever pair of hands at work,

[@dominicschaeffer909]

My first sax was an alto from a pawn shop in’73 at 15 years old. No “band” in school just wanted to play so i learned on a POS and got every squeak and scream i could get…50 years later i see how a good instrument would have made a big difference in my playing. Not that i mind how i play but still.

[@suedunbar4287]

Great camera work! Thank you. Very enjoyable.

[@krikorarnelian2909]

Amazing mr Wes Lee i like the way you work on the instruments...

[@DarrylKirby]

Fantastic work, really important for practice with all instruments - a well setup, properly working instrument.

[@brucebenson5908]

As a former child clarinet player, I wish your instruction had been available when I was young. On, wait, computers and KZbin were not yet invented.

[@kristimiller-lee2338]

This was really good for your assistant. Thank you.

[@wesleemusicrepair9820]

Glad you got something from it

[@lotsabirds]

Nice Job, Wes!! Great Idea!

[@wesleemusicrepair9820]

Thanks!

[@bomaite1]

Do you think you could do a video about all the different kinds of clarinet pads? It is really confusing. Do you get what you pay for? Are there pads you really don't want to mess with? Are the different types really providing different characteristics? I would like to hear anything you have to say about that. Thanks for doing this. I have always thought that instrument repair involved some sort of voodoo, and mere mortals were never meant to witness it. I find it especially satisfying to watch the dent repair. I don't even play brass, but it just feels great to watch something that is seriously messed up being brought back to life. Looking forward to more.

[@Marfoir0303]

Very interesting videos on instrument repair.I’m a machinist an the tool you used to clean up he edge of the clarinet, we call that tool a counterbore. 😎

[@DaveLaneGC]

Fairly certain this repair to those side keys is what mine needed. I just gave up with it as squeaks.

[@bruhsoundeffect8455]

This is a great woodwind video, not to ve rude but usually woodwind repairs are boring but this video was actually super enjoyable and knowledgeable and loved the content, video quality, and appreciate you talking through each step so well. Great videos as always

[@wesleemusicrepair9820]

Thanks for watching along. Glad it wasn’t boring to much

[@drlegendre]

Lanolin grease is fantastic stuff, so many uses around the shop. Best press-fit lube ever. And if you're one of us who deals with cracked fingertips in dry, winter weather, lanolin will heal your hands like new if you apply it a few times a day for a week or so

[@cacoutube]

Uau! That is a Great tips! Thanks for sharing... Hugs from south Brazil! Congrats...

[@user-ck5zy7mq7k]

Молодец дружище. Супер мастер

[@adrianoesouza]

Great tips Tanks

[@wesleemusicrepair9820]

Thanks for watching along

[@dhpuls]

Wes, your videos are very informative and well done. I know nothing about music, instruments, or video, but the quality of your videos is awesome. I have a 90+ year old Wurlitzer Sax owned by my Dad. I would only trust his sax to you to fix it. Keep up the good work.

[@watts300]

I bet he’d fix it if you mailed it to him with a prepaid return label. Check his website.

[@adrianoesouza]

From Brazil

[@vtrombly]

I Measure the pin and use a reamer to match that way you only remove the offending material. Most are 3mm metric.

[@wesleemusicrepair9820]

Cool. I don’t have reamers that small, but when I do I’ll check em out. Thanks for tip!

[@richardcasey7521]

Good tip for removing bur in a pivot tube.

[@blessedheavyelements8544]

Very cool :) I just wish my old Artley flute was worth servicing. It's from the late 60's, and for the cost of the service, I can get a used one from fairly recently, for same price as a full service :(. Thanks for the hard work and the great videos! Best Regards and Best Wishes!

[@Alexysax]

👍👍👍 thanks

[@dougberrett8094]

Interesting the way you sized the sleeve. You might be interested in knowing that hydraulic valves in air planes are sized with a similar method. Rather than burrs created with diagonal cutting pliers, a lap is mounted on the bench motor. Lapping compound is put on the lap and a skilled operator laps the inside of the sleeve, using skill and experience, and frequent checks with an air gauge, the sleeve is sized to very close tolerances. About 8 millionths of an inch. A better way to explain this is this way. If you put a slider into a sleeve and held the slider by the stem while tipping them vertical, when you let go of the slider, gravity would cause it to slowly fall through. However, if you held the slider on one of the lands, the gravity induced sliding would stop when your fingerprints reached the sleeve.

[@wesleemusicrepair9820]

Very interesting! Thanks for sharing

[@ms-mac521]

👍👍👍

[@mikerichards6311]

👍👏🏻

[@thontepsamosorn3598]

If I could be in the marching band for another year I'll bring the clarinet to him. My clarinet turns 13 this year.

[@craiglindsay9667]

Enjoy your content. Could you state what you charge for these services? Is it an hourly charge? or per fitting?

[@loyeantleyjr.8646]

🤩😁🤩

[@Finn-McCool]

Still waiting to see an Oboe... 👀

[@johncooney4004]

Very interesting video, Wes. When you rotate the key in the swedging tool, it seems the jaws are still closed. Doesn’t the swedging tool scratch the plating on the key when you do that, especially if it is silver or gold plating?

[@daggwindrepair7872]

Neat idea with the diagonal cutters. How do you fit this service into your shop. Is it part of a new horn setup, or more standard procedure for every instrument you see? Normally I would think key fitting would be more of a overhaul type process rather than a more general servicing of an instrument.

[@wesleemusicrepair9820]

Standard service for GPC work from me

[@curtcoker6359]

If you could find another small vise that was branded dog that would be spectacular.

[@edwarddesenne6153]

Looks to me you're the best but how many repairers have the necessary equipment to do a repair which makes worn parts function as new ? My Vintage 10 S 1968 Selmer still a problem for repairers in the UK

[@1090yoyo]

Neat job ! May I ask which grease you use ? I'm more used to vaseline oil on keys...

[@wesleemusicrepair9820]

I use lanolin. Grease from sheep wool.

[@vketil]

Great video :) Do you prefere this swedging tool before a swedging plier?

[@wesleemusicrepair9820]

Older I’ve gotten and more wear on my hands I prefer this tool to my heavy hand swedging plier. When I was younger it was other way around

[@MissTEO1]

Do you find the collet tool allows you to swedge smaller areas than the pliers do? It seems like you were able to swedge the small side of the tube on the Bb/Eb key. Thanks for a really helpful video.

[@sammywilly3931]

Please my clarinet stops producing sounds when ever I start playing my lower keys .. Below the C. What do I do it

[@F.Wormsworth]

Check for a pad leaking air. Should be an easy fix.

[@kaiserflxme]

Look at that D# key the one right under the D key. It's loose.

[@JKtheSlacker]

My suspicion here is that Wes showed the two keys he did to help fully demonstrate the process, and that he finished out any other keys that continued to have play off camera.