PAY ATTENTION TO THE FOLLOWING WARNINGS. Call if you need help.
Be aware that too vigorous brushing under keys may loosen or knock loose
key corks. Key corks are thin cushions used to help prevent noise as
keys are opened or closed. Some key corks are important for making the
horn play properly, but most aren't critical.
Too vigorous brushing under keys may also unhook needle springs. Needle
springs are those little wires that connect the posts and the keys. They
are used to either lift the key after you release it or to hold a key shut.
Springs ARE critical to the horn playing properly. If you see a spring
that is not hooked, just push it back until it hooks back onto the little hook
on the key.
Just because it is a screw doesn't mean it has to be tightened!!!
Leave the screw turning to someone who knows what they are doing, which is
usually NOT you. :)
Tiny drops of oil are what you want when oiling your mechanisms. Too
much oil combines with the dust and dirt on your horn to make mud.
Oiling is critical to prevent rust and corrosion on the fasteners that hold
the keys on.
Please do not use super glue on your horn in any way, shape, form, or
fashion. To do so will cause extra time and expense with repairs and
will not be corrected under our maintenance agreement.
Flutes and piccolos are either nickel-plated or silver-plated. The nickel-plating does not tarnish as easily as the silver, but is harder (actually, almost impossible) to polish than silver. If you don't mind a little work and can pay attention to the warnings above, a silver-plated flute can be kept looking good.
use any polishing cloth that puts red stuff on your hands to polish your silver flute. You may use a cloth that has a white or yellow inner cloth that turns black when you use it. The reason? The red stuff rubs off the silver.
'nuff said?
When polishing your instrument, DO NOT TOUCH THE PADS WITH THE CLOTH.
