Re: [Harp-L] Custom American Chestnut harmonicas (David Payne)



David Payne gave you the best idea. For "good old-fashioned SS" there is the "good old fashioned twist drill and drill press." Oil-emilsion coolant or oil keeps the bit cool while drilling.

Having an un-drilled metal comb gives you another option. Instead of using the long screws that reach through to the opposite reedplate or the opposite cover nut, you can tap (cut screw threads in) the holes and use short screws for both the reedplates and the covers. I suggest a #50 tap drill and a 2-56 tap and screws. All are available from McMaster Carr http://www.mcmaster.com/ The drill bit, tap, tap handle and SS screws will probably cost about $40. OR...any competent harmonica tech can do the work for you.

The advantage is that when you wish to work on the reeds to tune, gap, or replace them you can remove one cover and one reedplate without the opposite ones falling off. Also, with steel screws and threads, you can really crank down on the screws without danger of stripping the threads. Admittedly, this advantage is more important on a chromatic harp than on a diatonic harp.

Because you have gone to a lot of cost and trouble to have the strongest and most stable comb, and you might wish to go "all the way" with tapped screw holes.

Vern


----- Original Message ----- From: "geoff atkins" <geoffatkins@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, June 08, 2009 11:04 PM
Subject: [Harp-L] Custom American Chestnut harmonicas (David Payne)




Hi David
Joking aside, I've just had a dozen 6mm thick combs laser-cut from good
old-fashioned autoclave-able stainless steel. Problem is getting them
drilled, lasers can't "drill" small diameters. Any suggestions?


Geoff Atkins

_______________________________________________
Harp-L is sponsored by SPAH, http://www.spah.org
Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx
http://harp-l.org/mailman/listinfo/harp-l





This archive was generated by a fusion of Pipermail 0.09 (Mailman edition) and MHonArc 2.6.8.