[Harp-L] Re: Valve Tips

[Rick Epping <rickepping@xxxxxxxxx>]

I've found that an ultrasonic cleaner does a good job cleaning the valves
without removing them from the reedplate.  Old valves attached with
Hohner's red valve cement sometimes come loose and need reattaching, but
valves attached with Pliobond or superglue seem to stay put through the
cleaning.

Best,
Rick

>
> Message: 4
> Date: Sun, 6 Oct 2013 18:26:41 +0100
> From: "Aongus MacCana" <amaccana@xxxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: [Harp-L] Valve Tips
> To: "Harp-L List" <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
> Message-ID: <000f01cec2b9$38d82230$aa886690$@net>
> Content-Type: text/plain;       charset="us-ascii"
>
> Like every other would be chromatic player I have had problems with valves.
> I didn't realise that valves comprised two layers - one of which functions
> as a spring until this was pointed out by Rick Epping at a Harmonica
> workshop.
>
> Bang went my dream of cutting out my own valves from the lids of yoghurt
> tubs, which up to then had looked to me like a suitable and viable
> material.
>
> Music Cal's suggestion about using coffee filter paper as a valve cleaning
> material appeals to me. I shall definitely give this a try.
>
> Previous valve therapy I have tried - with limited success - was blowing  a
> small amount of methylated spirits through the instrument from the business
> end.
>
> I have also tried placing a vacuum cleaner hose near the back of the
> harmonica after a playing session to draw room air through it instead of
> moist beery breath and thus dry out the valves. This seemed to sort of half
> work, but I don't expect to be patenting the idea anytime soon.
>
> Beannachtai
>
> Aongus Mac Cana
>
>
>