Subject: RE: [Harp-L] Retuning Kit - making a homemade one
Lots of very good info here, Michelle. I really like your suggestion of the
marble cutting board.
SmoJoe's still away on a Jazz Cruise, I believe (I'm so envious), otherwise
he might have chimed in with suggestions.
There's a beeswax thread running on the slidemeister site, and I posted this
link there just this morning for someone looking to seal a leaky chrometta:
_http://www.localharvest.org/pure-beeswax-bars-C11384_
(http://www.localharvest.org/pure-beeswax-bars-C11384)
(Disclaimer: I've never used anything to seal a harmonica and wouldn't. I
won't use anything which might attract dust or dirt, living in a house full of
animals.)
I use a lot of 'off-the-cuff' stuff to work on harmonicas (learning from our
own Mr. Fix-it/McGyver <G>) orange sticks, a dedicated toothbrush, my own
old but huge and unused set of feeler gauges I keep intact while using the
thicker gauges for all sorts of harmonica-related purposes.
Eyemakeup swabs (like Qtips but much more tightly wound)...flattened on one
end, pointed on the other, are invaluable for dipping into either Rubbing
Alcohol or Clorox Hard Surface Anywhere Spray and cleaning nooks and crannies
(and mouthpieces). Got them at K-Mart but a friend found a box of 100 at CVS
for $3.00 or so. I also use them to polish my reedplates with the MAAS without
getting it onto the reeds themselves. I freely admit to being a wee bit
OCD, liking it so much better when my harps are spotlessly clean, highly
polished and gleaming.
At your micromark link they had a nice selection of long skinny tweezers
which would also come in very handy: (reaching in to remove any stray
hair/filament....as well as to straighten a recalcitrant valve, or to replace one
without bending it. I bought a cheaper set at Michael's craft stores ..made for
jewelry work, but they're not half as well made as the ones I now see at
Micromark...
The one thing I'M missing is a tiny (mouthpiece opening sized) light (LED is
preferable) since I can still see clearly close up - but need my glasses for
anything further away than a foot <G> If anyone could point me to it I'd be
so grateful...even if it needs plugging in. (Jimmy Gordon had one I coveted
at SPAH, Denver).
Never heard of the Wiha brand of screwdrivers. Am going to go look them up
now.
Much obliged!
Elizabeth
Message: 14
Date: Sun, 1 Feb 2009 10:08:11 -0700
From: "MLeFree" <mlefree@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: RE: [Harp-L] Retuning Kit - making a homemade one
To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
James boutilier inquires:
> ok, so, my paypal wasnt where i thought it was
> need to save a few bucks to get into retuning my harmonicas
>
> figured the money is best spent on a cheap set of harps and the
> chromatic tuner.
>
> so, im trying to build a basic retuning & gapping kit.
>
> --> I cut open one of those CD security thingies, and sure
> enough, the promised 3 metal shims were there, 2 long thinner
> ones, and one slightly thicker shorter one.
Those are great for several uses in working on harps - centering reeds in
the slot, removing debris from the space between the reed and reedplate,
etc.
An old fashioned razor blade or a thin mechanic's feeler gauge will come in
handy for supporting the reeds as you work on them (place the blade/gauge
between the reed and reedplate.)
You can file a square notch in a feeler gauge to fashion a reed wrench.
An essential tool is a "reed offset tool," a brass rod with a rounded spade
shape on one end and a tapered end bent at a 90 degree angle to the shaft.
Both Lee Oskar and Hering toolkits include one. Somewhere on his Chromatic
Reference website, "Harp-On," G details how to make one from an inexpensive
brass rod available at your local hardware store, but I couldn't find it.
You might e-mail him for its location (see link on website).
http://www.angelfire.com/music/HarpOn/
In lieu of that, a large, dulled needle would work for the tapered end.
You'd be amazed what you can do with such a needle, even with the harp
assembled.
BTW, Lee Oskar publishes a little harmonica maintenance pamphlet that is
short, sweet, and excellent (comes with his toolkit). You can probably
google a copy.
> --> having done some jewelry work, I have a couple small
> precision fine files
I prefer "sanding wands," $14.95/set:
http://www.micromark.com/MICRO-SANDING-WAND-SET,7760.html
SmoJoe makes his own by gluing sandpaper to the edge of a popsicle stick. He
stacks several popsicle stick, glues on the sandpaper and then cuts the
sticks apart with a razor blade. (Incidentally, Smokey Joe is the original
"McGyver" of harmonica repair/customization. He could write a book about
home-made harmonica tools... With any luck, he'll respond to your query.)
> --> I have a small triangle file ground at the end on an angle
> like a chisel.
Surely you wouldn't use that to tune reeds? Maybe to chamfer them ala Rick
Epping...
A small socket from your automotive toolkit or even a penny will nicely
emboss the reedplate slots.
> Can anyone tell me if they think this is sufficient, and what
> else i might add (home-made or dollarstore procured) ?
A tuner would be handy... A cheapie like a $20 Korg from your local music
store will do.
You'll need small slothead and philips head screwdrivers. I prefer the Wiha
brand. Last ya forever.
A cardboard boxtop (especially with a white inner surface) is very handy for
holding/catching and finding small parts that inevitable fly around the room
when you work on your harps. (Avoid a carpeted room.)
A good worklight is essential. I like the kind on an articulated arm that
has a magnifying lens built in.
A very flat surface to ensure your combs and reedplates are flat is handy. I
use an old marble cutting board. Great for flattening combs with fine
sandpaper.
I use paraffin or bee's wax to seal wood combs. I do it gently in the
microwave to avoid a potentially deadly fire hazard. Food-grade cutting
board or salad bowl sealant is also good. Check your local hardware store.
At my age, reading glasses are very helpful. 8^)
BTW, Douglas Tate's book, "Make your harmonica play better" is an excellent
resource. At $10 or so from Amazon and elsewhere, it might very well be your
first purchase.
Good luck,
Michelle
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