I am rebuilding a Pratt_Read player and am submitting this query
to anyone who can advise me on the following issue:

The single valve system has pouches that are composed of zephyr
skin, a very thin, responsive, airtight material.  I have removed
the old skins and sanded the surface.  After attempting to apply
the new zephyr skin, I am finding it to be a tedious and difficult
process to do well.  I am using hide glue, mixed to a thin consistancy.

I have found:
 - if the skin gets damp while applying (wiping glue off with a damp
        rag), the skin shrinks, becoming tight as a drum.
 - it is tough to keep glue from getting onto the inside of the
        pouch when you depress the skin to create the "pouch".
        You don't get much working time to apply the glue and
        get the pouch in place before the glue is setting.

After attempting about 30 pouches, I am happy with about 6 or 7 of them.
The rest need to be redone.  Any suggestions?  I have received the advice
to use pouch leather, but one comment that I read was that the bleed size
may need to be changed if I have a pouch material that is of a different
porosity and responsiveness.

Any comments would be greatly appreciated.  This is a hobby for me.
It is my first player.

Thanks,
Larry Toto

•                Email:          toto@mammo.pndr.upenn.edu
                Telephone:      (215)-662-7508 (w)
                                (215)-424-8121 (h)