Getting the (nailed) plates off without distorting them is a
nightmare.............
I buy whole 270s and remove the covers and reedplates for use in
Hands-Free-Chromatics because it is cheaper than buying the parts separately
from Hohner. Here is my technique for removing reedplates without bending
or otherwise damaging them.
I force a straight-edged razor blade under the plates all around the back
and sides. This forces the plates away from the comb by only the .010"
thickness of the blade. Then I press the plates back down against the comb
leaving about .010" or less clearance under the nail heads. I grasp the
nails with a cuticle nipper (looks like a small pair of diagonal cutters)
and pull them out. Buy your wife a new set of nippers and keep the old ones
for removing harp nails. This also keeps the nails straight. A little grease
on the blade helps it to slip under the plates.