Dry Fitting Station

At this station, the level pad cups are adjusted over the level tone holes so the pads will install more easily. Our proprietary process of Dry Fitting is done with a “dummy” set of pads so that the pads which will be installed are not compressed during adjustment. These pads are put into the cups dry, or without glue, and the pad cup is adjusted to be parallel over the tone hole. This station is where the stack timing is set so that the F# pad sits just slightly higher on the bottom stack than the F, E, and D, and on the top stack, the C pad sits slightly higher than the B, Bis Bb, and A keys to make it easier for the job of padding. With those considerations completed, pads are chosen for the pad cups and glued in. The saxophone leaves this station with the stack keys installed, and the other keys left neatly in a tray.

To learn more about the intricate job of Dry Fitting check out Curt’s Article here: Dry Fitting Saxophone Pads

7 Dry Fitting

Equipment we use at this station:
Saxophone Key Adjustment Levers
Screwdrivers
T-Pal
Vortex Air Torch
Pad slick
Z-Gun
Clear synthetic shellac
Parallel Duckbill Pliers
Chain Nose Pliers
Knipex Plier Wrenches
Large Double Sided Mallet