4 Ways To Tighten Loose Adjustment Screws On Woodwind Instruments

This is a how-to video about four of the ways to tighten adjustment screws on woodwind instruments. In the video, I use a flute and a clarinet, but the process is the same for all woodwinds.
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[@MrEh5]

I restore antique aircraft with thin wall tubing and your videos helped me a lot. I'm developing and interest in fixing musical instruments now. Thanks!

[@TheBrassandWoodwindShop]

That sounds very interesting. I love antique airplanes too. I almost became a crop duster, but I thought band instrument repair would be a little more family friendly.

[@lwilton]

Another way to spread a screw slot is to find a screw driver that will go into the slot at the tip, but wedges against the sides of the slot before the tip of the blade reaches the bottom of the slot. Often this will be a larger size driver, which may be wider than the screw. So you have to back the head of the screw out so the slot is exposed enough.
Then you can press the screwdriver straight down into the slot, or perhaps tap it *very* gently with a soft hammer, and that should spread the slot equally to both sides.

[@mr.schwall6144]

I have had pretty good success using clear nail polish to keep adjustment screws from working loose. I just put a small dab on the screw head and let it dry. Similar concept to Loctite. It typically doesn’t work its way down into the threads and can very easily be broken loose with a screwdriver. I have also had some success with this technique on pivot screws as well. I try to only use this only when all other options have failed.

[@raefblack7906]

Please, can you do a vid on closing the gap of keys on the rod...

[@TheBrassandWoodwindShop]

Here are links to two videos that may help:
"Woodwind Pivot Screws and How To Make Them Work"
th-cam.com/video/pVs6bFqffZc/w-d-xo.html
"Conical End Pivot Screws: Loose Woodwind Keys and How To Tighten Them"
th-cam.com/video/ndy9Vpbxdzg/w-d-xo.html

[@raefblack7906]

@@TheBrassandWoodwindShop Thanks very much for the help!

[@craigiefconcert6493]

I wonder if it’s possible to put a bit of wax on the screw threads to keep it from turning?

[@TheBrassandWoodwindShop]

Wax may work as a temporary fix, but it probably would not hold for very long.

[@javierquesada798]

Master, when the screws do not come out, should we heat them?

[@TheBrassandWoodwindShop]

First put on penetrating oil and then you can heat it if you can do it without damaging the instrument. Also, try turning the screwdriver back and forth with some, but not too much force.

[@captainwitbooihendrikismae5679]

Am having an invisible dent on my trombone slide..please assist

[@TheBrassandWoodwindShop]

Usually it is easier to feel a dent than it is to see a dent. Try sliding your hand up and down the slide feeling for the dent. Also, it is possible that it is not a dent, but one of the other problems that cause slides not to work well. Here is the link to a playlist that may help.
th-cam.com/play/PLtJyi3RgtJ2t0KcyPWG-NI50DGuQKLTen.html