What is a Complete Mechanical Overhaul at Onks Woodwind?

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Previously in our Annual Cleaning/Set-up blog article we described why oboe mechanisms are complicated and how the mechanisms wear over time.  We also went on to describe why it’s important to have annual maintenance and the type of service your instrument would receive from our annual cleaning/set-up.

Sometimes, however, it is necessary to overhaul an instrument to bring it back into good playing condition.  The term overhaul can mean different things to different people.  Here is an outline of what your instrument will get with a complete mechanical overhaul at Onks Woodwind.

  • Completely disassemble instrument so we can remove all springs.
  • Clean all posts, rods and hinge tubes so we can fit keys.
  • Mechanically fit all keys on the instrument individually.
    • Fitting keys involves swaging keys tighter onto the rods.
    • Countersinking pivot screws in posts to fit keys that are on pivots.
    • Many times keys/rods are too loose to swag.  When this happens we make new oversized rods to stabilize keys.
    • Postholes themselves can be too large from years of usage.  When this happens we have to rebuild the insides of posts to secure the rod that secures the keys.
    • Post threads can sometimes become loose in the instrument.  When this happens we must re-secure the post into the instrument.
    • Over time braze joints on keys can become weak and split apart.  When this happens we must prep and re-braze the key so it will remain stable and not break in the near future.
  • Remove all corks from the instrument and keys.
  • Remove all pads from pad cups.
  • Clean excess glue from all pad cups.
  • Secure loose metal tenon rings.
  • Ultrasonically clean all keys to prep for buffing.
  • Wash instrument body and posts to prep for buffing.
  • If plating is intact all posts, keys, metal tenon rings, bell ring, reed well, and metal sockets are buffed to a high shine.
  • If plating is not intact keys and posts must be prepped for plating.
    • Plating prep includes filing/sanding keys and posts so all surfaces are smooth.  Many times this includes building up worn away base metal and sanding down layers of plating to be even with the base metal.
    • Once keys have been re-built, all keys and posts are ultrasonically cleaned and buffed to a high shine.
    • Keys and posts are ultrasonically cleaned again after buffing, hand inspected to make sure no buffing compound remains and packaged for shipping to the plating company.
  • Instrument bodywork.   Clean up scratches or previous crack work that need to be touched up.
  • Plug all holes in instrument body to confirm body is airtight.
  • Polish octave vent wells and octave vents.
  • Replace reed well if necessary.
  • Rebuild tenon connections if necessary.
  • All new tenon corks.
  • All new key corks, adjustment, and bumper.
  • Re-install posts. (If they were sent off for plating.)
  • Re-install springs. (We typically only replace springs when they are broken or do not work properly.)
  • Replace all pads during the re-assembly process.
    • As one might imagine, pad replacement is a crucial process.  Pads have to cover tone holes perfectly, but they must also work in harmony with all other pads.  Pad thicknesses are just as important as the pads covering with regards to the mechanisms regulation, pad angles and venting.

All of the procedures above, and more are completed and/or considered while overhauling an oboe or English horn at Onks Woodwind.  Overhauls can take between 20 and 30 hours depending on how much the mechanism, keys and body have deteriorated.

We would be honored to bring your oboe or English horn back to life.   Whether it is your day to day work horse or family heirloom, Onks Woodwind is here for you.  Contact us today!

Swabbing your Oboe by Numbers

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Click on the pictures below to view each step individually.

 

Other helpful hints:
  • Just like when you are playing your instrument, do not talk to your next door buddy while swabbing.  Most swabbing incidents occur because the swabber is not paying attention.  While swabbing, do not talk to your friends, but focus on the swab and instrument at all times.  Doing this and pulling the swab very slowly will ensure that you have a successful swabbing session.
  • If you do not want to chance getting your swab stuck, another option is to swab your instrument in sections.  Instead of pulling the swab all the way through each section, pull until the swab gets tight then pull the swab back out the same way it went in.
  • Use a non-pull through silk swab for another very safe swabbing method.
  • And of course, you can use a feather instead of a swab to have a successful “swabbing” session.

What does “My oboe keeps going out of adjustment!” mean?

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We hear clients say this statement all the time, “My oboe keeps going out of adjustment!”  Oboes are extremely finicky, but one thing is certain, they do not go out of adjustment “just because” or “on their own.”  There is always a reason why an oboe might go out of adjustment!  We wanted to share a few of those reasons with you so you can be better equipped to resolve an issue, or at least diagnose an issue, in the future.

  • Extremely loose mechanism, key wobbles on rod or pivot screws
  • Loose adjustment screw in screw housing
  • Worn out adjustment cork, either broken or deep indention
  • Adjustment corks that are too thick and “squishy”
  • Pads not covering properly
  • Pads with deep indentions
  • Wobbly tenon connections

As you can see from this list there are many things that can make adjustments on an oboe become unstable, i.e. keep going out of adjustment.  There is one word that can tie all of these items together, solid.  Oboe mechanisms are complicated and oboe mechanisms have a lot of moving parts.  Because of this, oboe mechanisms have to be solid in order to give you the performance you demand.

One of the first things many oboe players think of is expansion and contraction of the oboe material.  All oboes, whether they are made out of wood or a synthetic material, expand and contract.  This material movement can cause oboe mechanisms to change, making the oboe go out of adjustment.  Typically this change is very minor and subtle, sometimes noticeable and sometimes not.  Sometimes this change results in keys binding, which is very noticeable due to the fact that the keys stop working properly.

In our experience, MOST of the time when someone says “My oboe keeps going out of adjustment!” it is a culmination of all the possibilities listed above.  All of the possibilities above happen slowly over time as you play your oboe.  We call this ‘normal wear and tear’.

The metal that oboe keys and rods are made from do wear out over time.  When this happens, keys become less accurate which causes them to wobble in place instead of pivot in place.  The wobbling movement will cause pads to not cover properly and make adjusting with other keys nearly impossible.  Loose, wobbly keys will cause the adjustments on your oboe to be unstable.

Adjustment screws have to be secure in their adjustment screw housings. If they’re not, they will move!  Over time, screws can become loose on your oboe and when they do, they can turn by themselves from the vibrations and movements of playing the oboe.  They can also turn from assembly, disassembly and by being carried around in its case.  If the adjustment screws on your oboe are not secure, your adjustments will be unstable.

Pads and tone holes need to be flat!  Once a pad starts to show wear, it can become warped and/or take on a deep impression of the tone hole.  Anytime these changes occur, the regulation or adjustments between two or more keys becomes unstable.

On most oboes, there’s material under the adjustment screws that is glued to the key beneath the adjustment screw.  This material is typically called the adjustment cork.  This material could be cork, leather or synthetic.  No matter what the material is, it has to be thin and solid.  This cork cannot be squishy, it cannot have a deep indention, and it cannot be broken.  If these corks are not solid, your adjustments will be unstable.

When you assemble your oboe the tenon joints have to be secure.  If the joints of your oboe wobble after being assembled, this can have a drastic effect on the stability of the bridge key connections.  If the bridge key connections are not accurate, the adjustments between the two joints will be unstable.

“My oboe keeps going out of adjustment!” is a simple, general statement of truth when you are having trouble playing your oboe.  The solution to this frustration is also simple in principle.  Pads, corks, tenons and keys have to be solid in their mechanical function.  Just like players have to maintain a consistent practice regimen to become a solid oboist, the oboe itself has to have consistent maintenance to remain mechanically solid.

If you have concerns about your oboe “going out of adjustment,” call or email, we would be honored to serve you!

Contact Us!