[Harp-L] Re: plating reed plates

Michael Easton <diachrome@xxxxxxxxxxx> · Tue, 13 Nov 2012 17:43:13 -0500

Hohner plates the Toots chromatic model.
I forget if it's both or just the Mellow Tone model.
The width of the long slot Toots reeds measure  the same width as long  
slot non C-270 reeds.
The plating is not thick enough to cause problems within the slots or  
the rivet holes.

If plated correctly it could tighten up the gap the same as embossing.
One has to be careful about cleaning parts throughly of finger prints  
before plating.

I've plated my fingerprints onto some items using silver plating in  
the past.

That shows you how thin you can apply plating
The buildup of plating can be  based on the amount of time you leave  
it in the bath and how well you prep

the item to be plated beforehand.
btw, you can plate without getting into the slots.  Just add a thin  
layer of wax to the areas you don't want plated.
To plate over wax you have to move to the subject of electro forming.
Someone mentioned in another post about anodizing.   Anodizing is the  
process of adding an electrical charge or heat to

aluminum or titanium to produce a change in color.    Electroplating  
is using an electrical charge to transfer metal particles from one  
element to the surface of another.

Stripping is a reversal of the positive and negative electrodes to  
draw the plating off the element.

On Nov 13, 2012, at 9:08 AM, harp-l-request@xxxxxxxxxx wrote:
Message: 3
Date: Mon, 12 Nov 2012 22:46:36 -0600
From: karen mass <kdmass7@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Harp-L] Chrome plating reed plates
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Message-ID:
	<CAG33h7ESR8DHuqenoC0jL6weOZP5Yx5XwA8x1m=s56-995mUzA@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
this isn't a very good idea.
first, it would have to be done with all the reeds removed, as the  
plating

will enlarge them in all three axis, and would greatly change their  
pitch.

the reeds will no longer fit in their holes.

second, it would decrease the size of the holes, making it completely

impossible for the reeds to vibrate in place, even if the reeds were

removed prior to plating and replaced afterward.
after plating was complete and reassembly was attempted, the holes  
for the

rivets would be too small, and forcing the rivets or screws into those

holes would cause the plating to break, exposing the brass underneath.

clearing the reed holes would also result in plating breakage.   in my

experience, plating breaks like old paint chips.  irregularly and  
prone to

creating strips of unplated metal.
i imagine there might be some way to mask parts of the plate (without

reeds) to avoid these problems, but i have no idea of what they are,  
and i

certainly can't see any benefits from plating.
keep thinking outside the box though.   lotsa good stuff comes from  
that!
iowaplayer

Take Care
Mike
www.harmonicarepair.com