Re: [Harp-L] First try at tuning (higher).. Advice?

[Mike Wilbur <mike@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

They make a plastic file with Diamond Dust that cuts very smoothly for soft metal

Mike Wilbur



On Jul 4, 2013, at 10:20 PM, John Jordan <hooktool@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> I'm not a customizer but I know a lot about metal. An emery board is about as poor an abrasive as there is. Harbor freight has a set of small fine files that will work on the reeds just fine and will last a while. 
> 
> John
> 
> On Jul 4, 2013, at 6:27 PM, "Juke Geezer \(aka Steve Hayes\)" <bigbandrhythm@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> 
>> Resending.. I had some email issues here..
>> =========
>> Iâm going to try my first effort to retune a harp sometime in the next few days.
>> 
>> Iâll be using a piece of paper or manila folder to support the reed and a cut-down emery board as a file to do this to a Low F Manji:
>> 
>> Tune change in half-steps:
>> Blow: 0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0
>> Hole: 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10
>> Draw: 0  0  0  0 +2 +2 +3 +3 +4 +2 
>> 
>> The intended result is a Steve Baker Special holes 1-10.
>> 
>> I guess Iâll start with the 9 draw. Take a little brass at a time off the free end of the reed and keep checking pitch. It is a low harp and it looks like there is extra material for weight a the tip of every draw reed except 10.
>> 
>> I suspect raising the 9 draw a third might be tricky. Also, because the 10 reed has no extra material to remove, I wonder if a scraper might be a better tool for that.
>> 
>> There is a Harbor Freight store in town as well as the usual complement of hardware and building supply stores.
>> 
>> Any advice?
>> Tools?
>> Technique?
>> Mantra?
>> Dietary supplements?
>> 
>> 
>> /Steve
>