Re: [Harp-L] Altering reed slots

[Vern <jevern@xxxxxxx>]

Different long splices for different captains.

I anticipated that my approach might be too fussy and fastidious for a person who can fashion a reed from a razor blade.  I knew that Joe would favor a more direct metal-and-chips attack!

Although I can't deny that you could make your method work, I (and the average person) would stand a pretty good chance of irreversibly spoiling the plate.  

How about this?
- Install the short reed in the too-long slot with no gap.
- Cut about .050" of the slug off of the tip of a long reed.
- Stick it and a .001" plastic shim in the slot and against the tip of the reed with tiny dabs of wax on each side.   
- Glue it in place with epoxy or soda-filled super glue.
- File flush with the surfaces of the plate.

Now the end of the slot is brass with a sharp edge and you know that the slot will be the correct length before you apply the glue.

Since neither of us has actually done this, are we carrying a hypothetical discussion beyond the interest of the harp-l subscribers?   ;o)

Vern
   
On Aug 9, 2010, at 2:36 PM, joe leone wrote:

> But you're a genius. I would do it differently. I would take a self tapping ss mach screw and drive it into the end of the slot. Then replace it with a brass mach screw and  then file off both sides and then square up the end of the slot. Not that my method is better, just what I'm more comfortable with.
> 
> smo-joe
> 
> On Aug 9, 2010, at 4:13 PM, Vern wrote:
> 
>> I have not ever shortened a slot, but I would approach it in the following way.
>> 
>> - Find a reedplate having a slot of the desired length.
>> - Place a piece of masking tape over the reed and slot. Better yet...remove the reed before placing the tape.
>> - Turn the reedplate over.
>> - Build a well around the slot with masking tape.
>> - Spray the well and slot with parting compound.
>> - Fill the well and slot with silicone rubber.
>> - Cut with an Xacto knife around the reed so that the rubber will come out of the slot. Keep the knife out of the slot.
>> - Clean the slot to be shortened with alcohol so the epoxy will stick.
>> - Insert the rubber mold in the slot to be shortened.
>> - Be careful not to touch the inside of the slot where the epoxy will go with the rubber mold that is coated with parting compound.
>> - Fill the unwanted length with epoxy.
>> - Remove the rubber mold.
>> - File/sand away any epoxy protruding above the surface of the plate.
>> 
>> The silicone mold can be saved and used repeatedly.
>> 
>> You can get the silicone rubber and parting compound from MicroMark and the epoxy & tape at the hardware store.
>> It isn't cheap, but you must be highly motivated to attempt this in the first place.  ;o)
>> 
>> Good news: A minimum order of silicone rubber will do a very large number of slots.
>> Bad news: Silicone rubber has a shelf life of less than a year.  So get busy!
>> 
>> I predict that the slot will be very close to the desired length and only a tiny amount of filing (if any) will be required.
>> 
>> It might work!
>> 
>> Vern
>> 
>> On Aug 9, 2010, at 10:44 AM, joe leone wrote:
>> 
>>> On Aug 9, 2010, at 11:15 AM, Gary Lehmann wrote:
>>> 
>>>> Just reading a little Pat Missin and read about altering reed slots to
>>>> accomodate shorter reeds . . .
>>> 
>>> How? with solder? liquid steel? aqua mend? set screw? It would have to be something that can take a HARD sharp edge. For the air splitting,
>>> 
>>>> Do anyone reading these words alter their reed slots?
>>> 
>>> yes, but mostly I lengthen the slots, not shorten them. All it takes is a .10" square tapered file.
>>> 
>>>> Seems like (I am now realizing) that tunings like the one Michael Rubin
>>>> proposed a few months back, with bass notes on top, would be fairly doable
>>>> if one were to alter the reed plate (now why did I not consider that that
>>>> was possible?) . . .
>>> 
>>> You haven't worked with metal?
>>> 
>>>> Why, you could even manifest the "ska tuning" as proposed by my buddy Grant
>>>> Osborne, where all reeds were tuned to the same note . . .
>>>> If you needed a hobby, that is . . .
>>> 
>>> OR, you could find a life.  lolol
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>>> G
>>> 
>> 
>> 
>