Tech Cork! Better than cork.....

[MusicMedic]

MusicMedic.com has just added Tech Cork to our product line.
I have been using it on my Saxophone Overhauls and love it!

Tech Cork:
-Works perfectly on Saxophone linkages
-Is great for reducing key noise
-Does not compress like cork
-is NOT squishy
-is sandable
-is very durable
-is easy to work with
-comes in 13 sizes!
-is extremely consistent in thickness and density

Anything I forgot?

Steve Goodson Talks about it in his article on SOTW here:
http://www.saxontheweb.net/Goodson/AlternativeMaterials.html

If anyone is interested in the Tech Cork, using this link to learn about or purchase some will benefit SOTW...
www.MusicMedic.com/enter.php?ref=saxontheweb

[paulwl]

Can you spell it c-o-r-k if it doesn't actually contain cork?
You could call it Tek Kork, Tec Corc, Tech Corque, etc.
How about Corctec? Kork-Tek?

:) Spunds like neat stuff, whatever you call it.

[paulwl]

:oops: Scuz me...looks like it does contain cork...so by all means call it cork.
Sorry for corking off!

[MusicMedic]

Paul, Tech Cork is manufactured by a company who sells and processes sheet cork for musical instruments. They do use real cork in it but it's much better for woodwind repair than natural sheet Cork. So your right! It does have cork in it. :D

[Gordon (NZ)]

For at least 15 years I have used practically identical materials for linkages and certain other locations where dimensional stability is particularly desirable on saxes, and have found them beneficial.

Because of its firmness, I prefer other materials with greater damping action where there tends to be a a noisy 'slapping' action of keywork against the body, for example under 'stack' keys.

I suggest the statement in the advertising, "It has been tested and it is certified to have over 85% recuperation after 800 kilos of pressure". It may be well meaning but it actually makes no technical sense and tells us nothing, seeing it is using 'kilos', which is a unit for mass or force, as a unit for pressure. Pressure, mass, and force, although they are all well-defined scientific terms, are quite different concepts.

[MusicMedic]

Gordon,
I too have been using similar materials searching for an alternative to Cork. -so many of us have it would seem. I don't know if I would call them 'practically Identical' as I do not truly know the composition of the other materials that I was using. The Composition of Tech Cork is considered a Trade Secret. So far I have not found a gasket material or cork product that works as well on saxophone linkages as the Tech Cork. I seldom use anything else.

I always use Tech Cork on adjusting linkages and often use it areas that contact the body with force. I don't find the Density of the Tech cork to be improper for these situations in general. Keep in mind that many of my clients are Classical Saxophonist and key noise is a huge issue for them.

BTW, I often find that key noise resulting from the upswing of a key is a result of play in the linkage, space between the hinge tube and rod, or the same in a neighboring key. Adding a less dense material to the key foot to suppress the key noise is sometimes a band-aid.
When I do have a problem with key noise, I usually laminate the material under the key feet with a material like Ultra-Suede.
As for the Statement that you consider to be inappropriate. I suspect the problem here is communication. As you know there are language barriers and such that we are dealing with. As a result of you pointing this out, I am going to post more technical information on the site very soon. I will take that sentence down until I can be more complete in my explanation of Tech Cork. -At least I know that Gordon is visiting MusicMedic.com!

Tech Cork has been Tested for over 5 years now and some of the finest techs in the country are using it. The ones that are not, have not tried it. So, I think it will be around for a while. I will keep you informed as I receive more Technical information.

[Gordon (NZ)]

Thanks.
Have you trided Kraus' new black stuff under key feet yet?
I agree about the pivot noise.
Gordon

[MusicMedic]

Have you trided Kraus' new black stuff under key feet yet?
Not yet. I tried to order some but I was in a move and could not produce a Tax ID that was the same as the State our shop is in. Not having valid proof that I am actually a repair Tech, they would not sell to me....Funny Right?


I agree about the pivot noise.
Just having you agree with me makes me sit back and smile! I know I must be doing something right! :D

Curt

[Gary Markham]

Kirk, I am interested in trying your cork. I have not done much experimenting with alternative materials and I am excited that someone is packaging and marketing a superior alternative to cork.

Now that Gordon has helped us overcome the force/mass/pressure issues of the claim idetified on your web site, I have to tell you that even if you had accurately stated 800 kilos of force distributed over some given area, it would not prove a lot to me. I do not know what kind of pressure range you would expect to be applied to cork on instrument linkages. Do you have any knowledge of any testing done to determine this? Do you know what kind of recovery can be expected with pressures applied to your tech cork in the pressure ranges expected with use on musical instruments?

[MusicMedic]

Hi Gary,
Thanks for the interest. Although I am testing products all the time here in my shop (I've been designing several types of 'RooPads', the Saxgourmet pads, new felts, testing synthetics etc.) the Tech Cork came to me all done! Can't beat that. All I had to do was ask questions and find out why it is like it is, what would react to it, and what it's made of. Then, (months ago) I started trying it on saxophones.

To answer your question I don't really know what the perfect density is as I never needed to. What I do know is that Natural Cork is too squishy, and Tech Cork is just right. For linkages it's perfect! For neck corks, I've been using treated cork (when the player has more than one Mouthpiece) and Tech Cork when the neck can be fitted to one mouthpiece only.

Hope that Helps.
Curt Altarac

[Jolle]

Hi there,

I would like to convince my tech to use the "tech cork" stuff as well. Any info on where I can find the company that produces that stuff, so he can order it. Ah, maybe important to know : my tech lives, as I do, in Belgium.

I searched the net, but found especially these archived fora with google...

greetzz

[tophatsax]

If anyone is interested in the Tech Cork, using this link to learn about or purchase some will benefit SOTW...
www.MusicMedic.com/enter.php?ref=saxontheweb

You can order it directly from Curt Altarac at MusicMedic at his site above.

[Jolle]

And you think that they ship to Belgium without increasing the price of that stuff a threefold?

greetzz

[Daktion]

i have tech cork on my silver/gold TT.....it was extremely easy to work with.

[Grumps]

Don't know about the rest of the horn, but don't use it on the neck.

[tophatsax]

And you think that they ship to Belgium without increasing the price of that stuff a threefold?

greetzz

Email Curt at MusicMedic. My guess would be the only difference in price would be that you'd have a shipping charge.

[jimmitch]

Don't know about the rest of the horn, but don't use it on the neck.
Whats the reason not to use it as neck cork?

[Sigmund451]

So is tech cork different from the part natural, part rubber synthetic cork auto parts stores use for gaskets...it has little bits of black rubber gound up in it? Ive used it and it comes in huge rolls for only about 7 bucks.

[tbone]

So is tech cork different from the part natural, part rubber synthetic cork auto parts stores use for gaskets...it has little bits of black rubber gound up in it? Ive used it and it comes in huge rolls for only about 7 bucks.

Siggy, I've tried both and can say that they are a lot different. The auto gasket cork just doesn't last like tech cork. It was, afterall, only meant to be sandwiched tightly between two surfaces to create a seal and not the repeated compress, release, compress, release of a saxophone key foot. JMHO

[tbone]

Whats the reason not to use it as neck cork?

Jim, it's lack of squishiness is actually a disadvantage when it comes to a neck cork. It will work if it's properly shaped and you only use ONE mouthpiece but for neck applications REAL cork is still superior. JMHO

[Grumps]

Seems to get more slippery over time on the neck, even with one mouthpiece. A tech put it on a few years ago thinking he was doing me a favor. Had him remove it next time I was in the shop. Natural cork has a certain grip to it that you really need on the neck.

[awholley]

I'd concur that it's great everywhere EXCEPT the neck.

[jimmitch]

Thanks tbone I like to use real cork on my horns I also like Curt's ultra suede I'm no pro but my mark VI that I overhauled plays great thanks to all I learned from you guy's.

[Daktion]

hmm i also have the tech cork on my neck. I dont find it a problem switching between the few mpcs i have. as long as the tip is thinner and the diametre gets wider as it goes up the neck piece i dont see the problem.

the only gripe is that it doesnt "look" as good as natural cork :D

[awholley]

My issue was that it was so hard to sand down on the neck to fit the mouthpiece.

[dzve]

Jolle try novitarosas,com I buy mostly from them and they are in portugal.