The Thrifty Therapist

I have to be honest with you, I am running out of ideas for this theme.

Actually, an idea just popped into my head, so here it goes.

I live in a world of broken instruments. My clients are very good at destruction and not very good at being gentle with fragile instruments and materials. While I do work on proper playing techniques and making choices about which instruments my clients are able to use during sessions, there are times when an instrument breaks. In addition, most of my handheld percussion is over 20 years old, so things wear down and break due to being used. So, it is not unusual for me to have a bunch of instruments waiting to be repaired, replaced, or thrown out.

I tend to be a repairer rather than a replacer. As a result, I have some things in my clinic that I cannot live without when it comes to repairing instruments. In no particular order, here is my list of things that help me extend the life of various instruments and materials:

  • Super glue - oh, dear. This is a great tool to have when repairing instruments. I have tambourines that have been put together with super glue over and over again. This glue works best on plastic instruments rather than on wood instruments.
  • Tool kit - I have a mini set of tools that are all stored within each other - sounds strange, right? This set is contained within a hammer. Inside, there are seven different screwdriver bits. It is hard to explain, but this tool set is essential for my repair practice. I have a mallet to hit things back into place, I have screwdriver bits to help loosen and tighten things, and it is just perfection. In my tool kit, I also have a set of precision (AKA little bitty) screwdrivers to help when I delve into repairing electronic toys and instruments.
  • Wood Putty - This is a great way to reinforce wooden instrument repairs. Sand down the glue (in the next bullet) and then finish off with wood putty to reinforce the glue and disguise the repair just a bit more. This might require matching your putty to the stain of the instrument, but you don't have to do this...
  • Wood Glue - when repairing wooden instruments, nothing works better than wood glue. I find that super glue sinks into the wood too quickly to be effective, but this stuff is designed to create a bond between wood pieces. The problem? It often looks repaired and leaves something for my clients to pick at. 
  • Duct tape - this tool is great for stabilizing instruments during the repair process or just as another way to repair something. The only problem that I find is that duct tape breaks down eventually and becomes a gooey, sticky mess. It also can leave a residue so make sure you also have some Goo Gone to help remove the stick.
  • Clear tape - packing tape is great for cheap laminating small items.
There are more things that will occur to me on my commute this morning, but that's it for now. I am hoping that this list will help someone out there save a bit of money. What things do you repair on a regular basis? My list is too long to contemplate right now. It's time to go upstairs and get ready for today.

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