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When flutes age, or are taken back and forth between places with different temperatures and humidities, the head joint cork can become shrunken and loose, which will not provide an adequate seal on the instrument. If the cork does become loose, a new one needs to be properly attached to the crown and screw device and pushed into the head joint of the flute. Without this cork, the instrument is not able to be played.
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Unscrew the Flute Crown.
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Use pliers to grip the protruding screw and pull out the old cork.
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Use a razor blade to cut the glue around the base of the screw set up.
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Use a razor blade to cut the glue around the removable washer at the top of the cork.
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Use a razor blade to make two lengthwise cuts on opposite sides of the cork.
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Break the cork off of the screw.
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Use a small paintbrush to brush on a layer of contact cement onto the bottom of the new cork and the bottom of the screw set up.
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Let contact cement sit for a few minutes and then slide the cork down onto the screw rod glue side first.
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Use a small paintbrush to paint a layer of polyurethane glue onto the top of the cork.
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Screw the washer onto the screw rod.
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Wait for all the glues to dry.
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Drop the new cork and screw set up screw first into the bottom of the head joint. If the cork is the correct diameter you should be able to see it partially through the embouchure hole.
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Use the flute tuning rod to push the cork into the head joint until the tuning line at the bottom of the rod is in the middle of the embouchure hole.
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Screw the crown back onto the screw set up and play the instrument to test that the new cork works.
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Texas Tech, Team S3-G25, Cowan Spring 2021 crwdns2935289:0Texas Tech, Team S3-G25, Cowan Spring 2021crwdne2935289:0
TTU-COWAN-S21S3G25
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The head joint cork assembly should never be pulled out the top of the head joint! Pulling it with pliers is a terrible idea! Attempting to do so will damage most flute professional head joints (it depends on the size of the cork plate). As a professional flute repair person I have seen a number of head joints with such damage. Because the head joint has a slight taper it must be pushed out the tenon end. Use a 5/8" wooden or plastic rod with a hole drilled a couple inches deep in one end to contain the threaded rod. Go to your repair person and ask for a demonstration.
