Sticky Padboard

[Pete Dunk]

Dirge, since your original post have you reported back to the repairer who did the re-padding and told him that talc was only a short term solution? Out of interest why did you have the Æola re-padded in the first place? Was it part of a general overhaul or had the concertina developed a problem? Was this instrument new to you at the time or had you been playing it for a while and noticed a deterioration?

 

Why do I have the feeling that this is one of the little beasties I pointed out to you on ebay? I'm truly sorry if I brought something to your attention that's proving to be a real pain (especially if 'her indoors' is giving you that "I told you so" look).

 

Pete.

[Dirge]

No Pete, nothing to do with you, the one you egged me on to buy is a beauty, a really top class instrument, which adds to the irritation of this.

 

This one came from another forum member unrestored and he sold it me at a discounted price accordingly. It needed the full repad, tune and revalve as well as having the bellows rebound to get it playing again. Mike has already quite gratuitously volunteered a new set of pads, he's good like that, and I may take him up yet, but I don't want to spend hours working on it at the moment, I just want to be able to play it.

 

At the moment you press a key and feel it unstick suddenly; really disconcerting when you're trying to play something subtle.

 

How do you get the computer to write 'Aeola' properly?

[Pete Dunk]

How do you get the computer to write 'Aeola' properly?

If you have a standard PC hold down the 'Alt' key and type 0198 then release the 'Alt' key and the diphthong Æ appears as if by magic. If this doesn't work on your machine open your word processor and try >Insert>Symbol then trawl your way through the ASCII character set until you find it - clicking once usually shows you the shortcut keys (if available) for the symbol you want.

[Dirge]

How do you get the computer to write 'Aeola' properly?

If you have a standard PC hold down the 'Alt' key and type 0198 then release the 'Alt' key and the diphthong Æ appears as if by magic. If this doesn't work on your machine open your word processor and try >Insert>Symbol then trawl your way through the ASCII character set until you find it - clicking once usually shows you the shortcut keys (if available) for the symbol you want.

 

How many hours of concertina practice were sacrificed to discover that then? (Æola!!! he he he!)

[JimLucas]

How do you get the computer to write 'Aeola' properly?

If you have a standard PC hold down the 'Alt' key and type 0198 then release the 'Alt' key and the diphthong Æ appears as if by magic. If this doesn't work on your machine open your word processor and try >Insert>Symbol then trawl your way through the ASCII character set until you find it - clicking once usually shows you the shortcut keys (if available) for the symbol you want.

Gee, on my keyboard it has its own key, just to the right of the "L" key and available in both upper and lower case: "Æola" or "æola".

 

Is it possible that Sir Charles was secretly Danish? (Oops! I guess I should have asked that question in the History subforum. )

[Frank Edgley]

Another possible solution would be to use silicone lubricant spray. Take the end off (assuming it's a vintage style instrument). Hold the buttons open one at a time and give each pad a short mist.

[Dirge]

I'm always a bit scared of silicon, Frank; it sounds a really great idea except is it going to store up any other problems for the future?

 

I think it's 'Pledge' that advertises having silicon in it; that would probably be enough, and now I think about it, what about using simple wax polish?

 

It seems to be 'running off' at the moment; it really does feel like it was the air flight that made it worse.

[Dave Prebble]

I'm always a bit scared of silicon, Frank; it sounds a really great idea except is it going to store up any other problems for the future?

 

I think it's 'Pledge' that advertises having silicon in it; that would probably be enough, and now I think about it, what about using simple wax polish?

 

It seems to be 'running off' at the moment; it really does feel like it was the air flight that made it worse.

 

 

Hi,

 

I would steer clear of any silicon products. It tends to sink into the wood and makes subsequent glueing or finishing almost impossible.

 

Dave

[Dirge]

I'm always a bit scared of silicon, Frank; it sounds a really great idea except is it going to store up any other problems for the future?

 

I think it's 'Pledge' that advertises having silicon in it; that would probably be enough, and now I think about it, what about using simple wax polish?

 

It seems to be 'running off' at the moment; it really does feel like it was the air flight that made it worse.

 

 

Hi,

 

I would steer clear of any silicon products. It tends to sink into the wood and makes subsequent glueing or finishing almost impossible.

 

Dave

 

That was what I was thinking, on the other hand, what am I going to glue to the front of a padboard anyway? It won't sink so deep that a split couldn't be repaired, would it? (perish the thought!)