[Harp-L] Reed replacement

["Rick Dempster" <rick.dempster@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Dear Reeders,    
                        I recall reading something like this on harp-l
before, but I didn't think of it till I discovered it for myself in a
moment of impatience before a gig on Saturday.
                        When replacing a crook reed, I have always
filed off both sides of the rivet, centre-punched it out, opened up the
hole in the reed to accept the 10BA screw I use to secure it, drill and
tap the reedplate, and screw the reed on.
                       I've been doing this for years because it has
always worked. Takes me about 45 mins. to do it on a good day.
                       Last Saturday, on an impulse, I used my
spring-loaded centre-punch to knock the rivet out from it's peaned-over
side (ie not the head side) did the same thing to the good reed I was
robbing from an old plate, chamfered the rivet hole on the host-plate
with an oversize bit held in my fingers (just to remove some burring)
and pressed the replacement reed, already suspended on it's rivet just
as I had removed it,  in place with a pair of pliers. 
                      The first one I did I turned the plate over and
peaned (or 'spread') the rivet. This put the reed on a lateral angle,
and I had to fiddle around for quite a while to get it straight &
working properly. 
                      The next one, I didn't bother spreading the
rivet; just pressed it in place, took it to the gig and used it. No
problems. 
                      Took about fifteen minutes.
                      Anyone want to buy a set of 10BA taps?
RD