Re: Solder on reeds

[Joe and Cass Leone <leone@xxxxxxxx>]

On Apr 1, 2004, at 4:43 PM, Keith Freeman wrote:

>
>> Long-time harp-lers will know what I have never been a fan of solder
>> on reeds, my preferred alternative is a mixture of epoxy resin and
>> stainless steel powder.
> I found putting a blob of 2-minute superglue on the tip (being careful 
> to keep it well
> away from the edges, of course) and then sprinkling brass powder over 
> it worked well.
>
> -Keith
>
> --Some people are concerned with their health, and this is 
> understandable. I am a STAUNCH supporter of ANYONE who puts the 
> welfare of their customers/clients/friends paramountly FIRST. Such a 
> person IS Mr. Missin. I never intended to advocate one way or another 
> for doing a reed. It was just what I have done on (rare) occasion. My 
> only answer(s) would be:

  1.  Tin, though a "heavy metal" is not a dangerous one.
  2. The amount used is insignificant. Only a "wipe" will generally do 
the job.
  3. The flux is wiped off with alcohol.
  4. I have never noticed any taste (at this level of amount)
  5. They have been tin-plating cans for years (over 150). Every time 
you open a can of veggies or baked beans, you have subjected yourself 
to tin.
  6. My (late) son was a chemical engineer and specialized in resins and 
coatings. One of the things they were working on was modern 
plastic/resin/polymer coatings to replace tin inside cans. Why? was it 
dangerous? NO, they wanted to do it cheaper and without the furnace 
equipment, and associated clean-up. Also tin plate has to be handled 
VERY carefully as ANY scratch through the plate allows access  to the 
base metal (usually steel).

  I laughed when I first read a report that people who used a galvanized 
bucket to get water from their wells and then used said water to 
drink/cook were subjecting themselves to zinc (which IS a dangerous 
metal). Then I notice that they sell zinc pills in the health stores.
  There are several places in the world where leaded gas is still sold. 
A couple minutes standing alongside the street sucking in the traffic 
will get you lots of exposure.
  Ever eat at an Italian restaurant and have heartburn later that 
evening. Chances are that the sauce(s) were prepared in an aluminum 
pot. ANY acetic substance MUST be done in a porcelain pot. Alum. will 
"leach" into acetic substances. Too much aluminum is not good for you.

  Sorry if I lead (no pun intended) anyone astray, but I am from the 
"old" school and considered by most to be very primitive. I will cut 
myself with a plane, squeeze out some blood (to flush out the wound), 
run it under water, place a piece of rag (Clean, if I can find it), and 
wrap it in duct tape. I guess my methods sound barbaric, but I 
(frankly) never gave a schitt. I have been in a helicopter crash, 
several horrendous traffic accidents, a war, and a prison riot. My 
entire face has been re-built and I am still here. If I died tomorrow, 
I would welcome it. Wouldn't be no big loss.

  I also use nail polish on reeds, jewelry cement on the windsavers, I 
MAKE my windsavers from audio tape, I place cat whiskers on top of them 
to add tension and keep them from curling. I have made reeds from 
hammered out bullet casings and japaneese radio antennaes. In 1958 I 
started cutting the 5 & 9 draw reeds (diatonic) UP 1/2 tone. So, I have 
been at this a long time. While I'm no virgin, I don't do much of it 
any more because it quit being fun.

  I was just trying to share some of my methods......sorry......
smo-joe (smokey) Joseph Leone (leone@ ewol.com) North Port Fl. 
(formerly Pittsburgh, Pa).