Getting the (nailed) plates off without distorting them is a nightmare.............
I buy whole 270s and remove the covers and reedplates for use in Hands-Free-Chromatics because it is cheaper than buying the parts separately from Hohner. Here is my technique for removing reedplates without bending or otherwise damaging them.
I force a straight-edged razor blade under the plates all around the back and sides. This forces the plates away from the comb by only the .010" thickness of the blade. Then I press the plates back down against the comb leaving about .010" or less clearance under the nail heads. I grasp the nails with a cuticle nipper (looks like a small pair of diagonal cutters) and pull them out. Buy your wife a new set of nippers and keep the old ones for removing harp nails. This also keeps the nails straight. A little grease on the blade helps it to slip under the plates.
Vern
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