The MAIN THING to know here is, "YOU CAN DO THIS"
First you will need a parts tray or cups. Try using a cup cake pan. It is easy to separate the keys and keep them in order as you remove them. Remember, you will reassemble in reverse order from disassembly.
Remove all the keys from the section. Be sure to keep keys and screws in order as that will greatly ease the pain of reassembly.
Once you have all of the keys off, clean the section. If it's plastic/resin use soap and water. If it's silver use NEVR-DULL dull or some other non-liquid polish.
You can polish your keys and replace the pads while the PICCOLO. Never use a wet polish on your keys. Use a dry polish cloth or NEVR-DULL polish which is not a liquid.
Remove old pads from the cups by scrapping out the old pad.
TIP: You can heat the back of the pad cup with a match or lighter to soften the old glue. Clean the cup as much as possible.
Put a glue pellet in the pad cup and apply heat to back of pad cup (you can use a lighter for this). Position the pad in the cup and level as much as you can. Adjustments can be made later.(br)
HINT: The glue will continue to melt after the heat is removed. Do not overheat. You may find that depending on your pad cups, one pellet is too much. You can carefully remove unmelted glue with a long pin or needle. Of course be careful, the material is very hot.
Reassemble the piccolo.
Plug the end of the section and close all the pads. Then blow into the piccolo. It should hold air unless you really blow very hard.
Adjust for air leaks by using a match or lighter to heat the back of the pad cup until the glue is softened. Let the pad cup rest lightly against the tone hole. Test for leaks.
This process may take some trial and error, just keep working on it. In some cases (instrument dropped, etc.) you may need to straighten or slightly bend keys to get proper fit.
CAUTION
Never let the flame hit the pad or you will need a new pad.
PATIENCE IS A KEY HERE.
Have fun with it and don't get in a hurry.
If you are ready, you may go directly to
Order Piccolo Pads
THAT'S IT