Re: [Harp-L] Re: Comb Material--some other thoughts

[David Payne <dave@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

My 2 centsIF you strip a screw thread in wood, you stick a toothpick in the hole and drive in the screw. You strip one of those metal inserts in a plastic comb, it's not so easy.
Sealed wood won't absorb mositure. 
There's only a couple of nailed harps in the plethora of wood harps these days. In both cases, see above toothpick statement for reinserting nails... and you can never overtighten nailed reedplates and make the whole thing leaky... My tightest harps are all nailed. 

Dave
________________________
www.elkriverharmonicas.com


----- Original Message ----
From: Vern Smith <jevern@xxxxxxx>
To: iiullah@xxxxxxxxx; harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Thursday, September 18, 2008 11:59:05 PM
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Re: Comb Material--some other thoughts


Visit my harmonica website www.Hands-Free-Chromatic.7p.com
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Isaac Ullah" <iiullah@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, September 18, 2008 11:45 AM
Subject: [Harp-L] Re: Comb Material--some other thoughts


........What are the properties of a wood that can make it a good choice for 
use as a harmonica comb?............

Since I deny that it has any effect on tone, I can't think of any.

There are many properties that make it unsuitable for harmonica combs:

It is porous and can absorb crud.
Screw threads in wood are weak and strip after repeated use.
Nails in wood weaken with repeated removal and replacement.
Intermittent exposure to breath moisture causes it to swell, shrink, warp, 
split and peel.

In the nineteenth century, it was the best material available, but not any 
more.

Vern


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