Re: [Harp-L] Blu-Tack and Solder: Go Brendan!

["Rick Dempster" <rick.dempster@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hmm....dunno how I feel about sucking on epoxy....come to think of it, I don't really know what Blu-tak is made of either.
Maybe the epoxy becimes inert (and thus harmless?) once it has gone off, but I wouldn't know. Yeah, brass powder is hard to find. I got some filings from a key cutter once, but it was too coarse.
RD

>>> Michelle LeFree <mlefree@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> 15/08/11 7:04 AM >>>
Just to toss in another option, Pat Missin used to recommend a mixture 
of brass powder and epoxy (this may have changed with all the press on 
Blu-Tak). Works great for me. Mix it up and it takes little of it 
applied to a reed tip to make the desired change in pitch (brass powder 
is certainly heavier than B-T). Use fast-setting epoxy and it takes 
little time to be ready for an Exacto knife for course tuning and a fine 
file for fine tuning. There is one advantage of this method compared to 
B-T: there is no worry about it coming off spuriously. I have harps that 
I re-tuned with this method that are still going strong after years of 
play. Yet, similar to B-T, all it takes is a well-placed flick in with 
that Exacto knife to remove it and restore the reed to its original pitch.

One thing, Blu-Tak certainly has going for it is availability. It took 
me some hunting to find brass powder. I finally discovered that 
sculptors use it to give a brass-look to pieces made of easier-to-work 
materials. Look for it at art or sculpture supply shops.

While on the subject, I must say that ole' Brendan Power must enjoy 
watching the ripples of his many innovations echo in the Harmonica 
Community "pond" for years after he announces them. The guy is years 
ahead of the rest of us in so many ways. It can be either inspiring or 
discouraging, depending on how you look at it. One thing's for sure, 
he's awesome however you look at (or listen to) him!

Go Brendan!

Michelle