[Harp-L] Rack improvement

[Rick Epping <rickepping@xxxxxxxxx>]

The Belleville washers sound good. While designing Hohner's HH01 rack I
specified external tooth lock washers. None of the samples supplied by the
factory in China were up to the task, so for every production run I would
send them a supply of lock washers I got from McMaster-Carr, which did a
good job in holding the rack in place. I still use these washers along with
the fiddle rosin, and enjoy the lightness and simplicity of this type of
rack, especially after adjusting it to fit and securing it from slipping.

Best,
Rick


On Saturday, November 23, 2013, Vern wrote:

> Rosin between the face of the wing nut and the arm holding the harp will
> have the opposite effect because motion of the arm will tend to unscrew the
> nut.  Make sure that the rosin is only in the threads.
>
> Placing compressible, conical* "Belleville" washers in the joint can
> maintain tension even if the wing nut becomes unscrewed a tiny bit.  This
> can be done in addition to rosin in the threads for a "belt and suspenders"
> solution.
>
> * N Conical washers facing the same way increase the spring strength times
> N.  Facing them in opposite directions reduces the spring strength by 1/N.
> Same direction <<<
> Opposite direction <><><>
>
> For the ultimate in racks, consider the Ergonomic-Neck-Rack (ENR) from
> Chris Reynolds.
>
> Vern
> On Nov 23, 2013, at 9:58 AM, Rick Epping <rickepping@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> > Hi Folks,
> >
> > For those of you using harmonica racks with standard wing nuts, here's a
> tip borrowed from fiddle players that helps reduce that dreaded push-back.
> >
> > Slipping violin pegs can be tightened with an application of powdered
> violin rosin. With this in mind, I removed the wing nuts on my rack and
> coated the bolt threads with powder scraped off a block of violin rosin.
> This serves as an excellent thread lock which has been functioning for a
> few months now without showing any sign of weakening.
> >
> > Best regards,
> > Rick
> >
> >
>
>
>