Re: [Harp-L] Cleaning chromatic reedplates

[Music Cal <macaroni9999@xxxxxxxxx>]

Thanks Vern and Joe



On Thu, Aug 23, 2012 at 10:48 PM, Vern <jevern@xxxxxxx> wrote:

> 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  Insert it then press down lightly with a fingertip as it is withdrawn.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
>
>
>