From: Ellis Brayham <ellisbrayham@xxxxxxx> Date: December 5, 2005 4:51:23 PM PST (CA) To: harp-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx Subject: repairing old chromatic comb
Hi Eric - Repairing old wood combs - well first of all, when you unscrew the brass reed plates, you may find the wood comb just falls apart, if the crack is severe enough.
One technique to overcome this is to use this very thin wood glue (sold for repairing chair legs) and put a small drop into the crack, and then lightly and carefully clamp the comb. Leave for a day or so, and then unscrew the reed plates and hope the wood is still in one piece You can then more easily fill in the rest of the crack.
Oddly enough, I have seen these cracks several times and they all appear in the same place, about 2/3 of the way along, Ive never seen one crack in the middle.
There is a 50/50 chance the wood comb will distort when unscrewed, if its got very wet previously. The brass has been keeping it stressed, and you could check with Mike Easton if he has any spare combs. Suffice to say, buying a chromatic with a cracked body is asking for trouble, and seldom a bargain. Ellis