Re: [Harp-L] Solder on reeds to lower pitch

["Vern Smith" <jevern@xxxxxxx>]

Lead-free solder is an unnecessary precaution because there is no mechanism 
for you to ingest the solder from a harmonica reed.  Cooking utensils or 
copper pipes are another matter. Ordinary lead-bearing solder will have a 
lower melting temperature and be easier to work with. Not only that, but 
lead is more dense than tin so you get more weight per volume of solder 
applied.

I slip a piece of paper under the reed to keep the flux and solder off of 
the reedplate and to support the reed.

I use a flat toothpick to aparingly paint a very thin layer of paste flux on 
the reed where I wish the solder to stick. I stay away from the edges of the 
reed. The little, battery-powered, "cold" soldering tools are very easy to 
handle and can do a good job on a reed.

If you use a small soldering iron, melt a small drop of solder on the tip 
and touch it briefly to the center of the fluxed area.  You will see the 
solder quickly flow out to the edges of the fluxed area.

If the solder stands up in a round glob, it has not adhered to the reed and 
might come off.  If the solder has thin, feathered edges, it has adhered to 
the reed and will never come loose.

After the soldering is finished on all reeds, wash the reedplate in 
turpentine to remove the flux and then in alcohol or hot water with some 
detergent to remove the turpentine.

Brass/bronze reed material is work-hardened by cold-rolling.  This breaks 
down the grain structure of the metal.  Ordinary soldering temperatures (as 
with a soldering iron) will not get the metal hot enough to allow large 
grains to re-form.  However, don't use a torch!  Copper alloys are not 
hardened with dissolved carbon as is steel so the same tempering mechanisms 
do not apply.

Vern
Visit my harmonica website www.Hands-Free-Chromatic.7p.com

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Blunt White" <playharp@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, March 20, 2007 8:56 PM
Subject: [Harp-L] Solder on reeds to lower pitch


> Greetings - looking for some advice on using solder to lower reed pitch, I 
> am going from an E to a D (a whole tone on hole 1) to build a Lee Oskar 
> Blues Tuning on a E harp as used by Carlos del Junco on B Thing.  I have 
> been experimenting on some old reed plates and the technique doesn't seem 
> too difficult. I am using lead free, silver bearing solder (96% tin and 4% 
> silver) and it seems to stick well and lowers the pitch as advertised.  My 
> biggest concern is how long will the solder stay put?  I have picked at it 
> and sanded it off and it really seems to want to stick.  Can't say I am 
> excited about the prospect of it breaking off.  I am interested in hearing 
> your advice.  Will the solder stay put? Does the heat affect reed 
> strength?
>
> I have built other Lee Oskar Blues Tuned harps by transplanting a hole 1 
> blow reed using a machine screw and nut (the solder will be easier and 
> much faster).
>
> Thank you!
>
> Regards,
> Blunt White
> Banker by day, Bluesman by night
>
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