Re: Re: [Harp-L] Re: Embossing

["Tim Moyer" <wmharps@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Vern Smith wrote:
> If I were to make an embossing tool, I would chuck a 6-inch length 
> of 1/4" diameter steel rod in my drill press. While it was 
> spinning, I would file the end into a hemispherical shape, then 
> polish it with 600-grit sandpaper and then crocus cloth. 

I personally prefer a cylindrical, rather than spheroid (or 
hemispherical) shape for embossing.  A cylinder, with a slightly 
smoothed edge, will allow the embossing to work closer to the tip of 
the slot.  Embossing with a sphere can only get so close to the tip 
before the ball starts to contact the tip of the slot.  I use a 
stainless steel socket.  Of course, a cylinder has to aligned 
properly with the slot.  

I also prefer something somewhat larger than 3x the slot width.  The 
socket I use is probably 10x the slot width.  I use fairly subtle 
embossing on the harps I customize, having found that extremely 
tight tolerances can result in an extremely bright and brassy tone.  

-tim