Re: Harp maintenance/up-keep . . . the Battle against Rust.

[timm@xxxxxxxxxx (Tim Moody)]

Chris,
    Here is the adivec of the pros, namely David Flack and Joe Filisko.
Rust on a reedpate cover can be removed easily with a Xtra-fine jewelers
file. It is important to remove as it may flake off stop up a reed from
moving. Removing rust on the reed itself is the same principle, but done
with much more care.( Some people scrape ) A piece of .001 shim stock can be
inserted between the reed and reeplate for stability. ANY buildup on the
reed MUST be removed, because it will add weight to the reed and cause it's
vibration rate to slow down, thus flattening the pitch. If one accidentally
files a little of the reed in the process, it can be compensated for by
filing the opposite end of the reed. One needs to be careful, as one or two
strokes of a file will change the pitch, ever so slightly. It is a fragile
instrument, but needs to be maintainenced. Our saliva has natural sugar in
it and causes minute crystalization around the reed. This too, adds weight.
I "floss" the reeds individually with .001 shim stock, being very careful.
You can't just keep blowing into your harps and expect them to keep a good
sound. David actually uses a fine wire wheel mounted on a Dremel tool to
remove rust, which a very efficient, clean way to do it. The reed, however,
still needs to be protected while being cleaned.

Tim Moody
MississippiSaxophone