Re: [Harp-L] cracked chrom body

[G <gigs@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

>Date: Mon, 26 Feb 2007 01:55:54 -0500
>From: "John Kerkhoven" <solo_danswer@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
>Subject: [Harp-L] cracked chrom body
>To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
>
>I've just been given a 64Chromonica. It's in good condition except for a
>crack in the body that interferes with playing the notes on one hole. 
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>I'm adequately set up with tools and am comfortable working on diatonics.
>If I can fix this myself I'd like to.
>So the question is: am I liable to succeed and if so, what's a good thing
>to try, and what are things I should watch out for? Is there any problem
>with removing and replacing the pins (nails) that hold the plates to the
>body?
>Thanks,
>John
>Montreal

Hi John,
  This is the approach I suggest.   Remove the mouthpiece slide assembly.
Leave the reedplates installed as is.   Mix up a small amount of two part
epoxy, here in NZ Selley's Araldyte is a household name.   You have one
tube of clear goo, and another with slightly clouded white goo, and mix
them in equal parts, after a few minutes it starts to set hard. Sometimes
you can buy them in a double barrel tube using a piston to push the goo
out in equal parts.
  Use toothpicks to apply the expoxy to the crack inside all the chambers
the crack is evident, being careful not to paint it onto the reeds or
valves.   The goal is to apply enough to set hard and hold the comb in
one piece when you disassemble it.
  Let the epoxy harden for over 20 minutes, or as per directions.
Carefully remove the reedplates using a swiss army knife or similar,
there are instructions for wood comb Hohner chromatic dis/assembly here
http://www.angelfire.com/music/HarpOn
under Chrom Maintenance in the contents in the left pane.

Apply more epoxy, to the crack, depending on the size of the crack, you
want to get as much epoxy between the two parts of the comb to hold it
firmly.   

If you are going to leave the comb overnight, either install both
reedplates properly, or leave both reedplates off.   Wood combs swell and
shrink, and I've found one of the fastest ways to warp a comb, is leave
it over night with only one reedplate installed.
  When you go to reassemble the reedplates, take care to get the front of
the reedplates flush with the front of the comb all the way along.  Again
instructions are available on the above site.
  If you find the reedplate's reeds don't fit the chambers properly more,
and the ends of the combs extend out from the reedplates further than you
recall, it's probably swollen.  You can shrink it by putting it in a dry
warm environment, and sit it on a flat surface.
  I've used a combination of electric heating pad, and sports gel packs
to shrink swollen combs back into shape.  
Cheers,
-- G.