Re: [Harp-L] Cleaning chromatic reedplates

[Vern <jevern@xxxxxxx>]

The part near the rivet is seldom responsible for the sticking so skipping it does little harm. You can use a strip of newsprint instead of a Q-tip.  Insert it then press down lightly with a fingertip as it is withdrawn.  That should avoid bending. Cleaning a misbehaving windsaver is a half-measure and the improvement in performance is likely to be temporary.  Most sticking can be attributed to condensation and not to gunk.

I recommend removing the valve, cleaning and waxing the plate with Johnson's paste floor wax (no soft waxes please) and installing a new valve.  See http://www.newharmonica.com for new valves.

Vern
 
On Aug 23, 2012, at 6:14 PM, Music Cal wrote:

> Periodically I use a Q-tip and rubbing alcohol to clean the part of
> reedplate surface that contacts the windsavers. I am almost certain that I
> picked this practice up from a tip that Sissy Jones placed online. It works
> pretty well. The only problem I have with this method is cleaning near the
> point where the windsaver is glued to the reedplate. If I get to close to
> that point the windsaver can become bent. So when using this method I end
> up missing some of what needs cleaning and occasionally I bend a windsaver.
> 
> I would like to do better. How do you clean this surface to maintain a
> stick-free valve-against-reedplate surface?
> 
> MusiCal