Re: [Harp-L] Cleaning diatonic reed plates

[Michael Easton <diachrome@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Alcohol is ok for some plastic combs and metal coverplates.  I  
would,  however, avoid saturating alcohol on wood combs due to
the chances of dissolving the sealant.   Alcohol can breakdown  
shellac (which is my sealant of choice),  epoxy and silicone
sealants that some harp techs use fix or customize harps.

 A customer's kid accidentally spilled alcohol on a wood comb 280  
shortly after I fixed it for him.  The alcohol dissolved  the epoxy
sealing a crack in the comb.  I find alcohol great for removing  
silicone from metal parts whether or not I want it to.

The best method,IMO, for cleaning  harps is to break them down and  
clean them with liquid soap and a toothbrush or brass brush.
Lay them on a towel to dry properly if you don't have time to dry  
them immediately.

BTW, Jason uses the inside of his harp case as an ashtray holder.  He  
should care so much about his lungs as he does his harps.
yeah, Jason you nasty boy;-)

mike


On Nov 30, 2005, at 5:38 PM, John Kerkhoven wrote:

> Not long ago Jason Ricci posted his harp cleaning techniques using  
> alcohol
> (91%). You might want to search the archives.
>
> A q-tip soaked in rubbing alcohol also works.
>
> You may try also baking soda and warm water. You can use an old  
> (clean)
> toothbrush. Be careful of getting the bristles snagged between the  
> reeds and
> the slots. You do not have to scrub intensely -- gently is sufficient.
>
> Best, of course, to take the harp apart for this kind of cleaning.  
> You can
> get the harp cleaned to some extent by letting it soak in the water  
> with the
> baking soda. (I picked this up from the Astatic JT-30 website.  
> Tried it; it
> works.) Jason Ricci also says (as I recall) that you can plop your  
> harps in
> alcohol when you don't have time to clean them thoroughly.
>
> Happy cleaning,
>
> john
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Huffa Puffa" <huffa.puffa@xxxxxxxxx>
> To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Wednesday, November 30, 2005 4:19 PM
> Subject: [Harp-L] Cleaning diatonic reed plates
>
>
> > Greetings All,
> > I have picked up a diatonic blues harp [Hohner] after not playing it
> > for a while and whoa! does it leave a yucky tang taste in my mouth.
> > What can I use to clean up the brass reed plates so they don't leave
> > me with that yucky after taste. The plates have that green corrosion
> > fuzz stuff on them and what look like water marks, typical stuff I
> > think for the inside of harps. Any suggestions?
> >
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