[Harp-L] Cleaning chromatic harmonicas

[Michael Easton]

Don’t worry about the windsavers.  Just don’t use the heat mode on reed plates with valves attached or plastic combs.

Been using ultrasonics for 40+ years and 15 of them on chromatic parts. 

3 things you need to be careful about is the liquid soap you use in the cleaner. 

1)While the perfume scent doesn’t cling to silverware it does to metal harmonica parts and valves.  
Use cleaners without perfume and coloring. They serve no useful purpose.

2) NEVER EVER use soaps with Aloe in them.  The aloe will not fully dissolve and act like glue sticking to the windsavers. 

No heat, aloe, perfume, coloring and you will be fine.  

3) NEVER EVER use alcohol, petroleum based products, household cleaners or other explosive or toxic items in an ultrasonic cleaner. 
The cleaners recommended for jewelry are too harsh for harp parts which are mostly plated. 

Be careful, use wisely and enjoy the benefits of an ultrasonic.  I have parts for 6 270’s sitting in my now. 

Mike
www.harmonicarepair.com


> On Oct 27, 2016, at 11:30 PM, harp-l-request at xxxxx wrote:
> 
> Message: 2
> Date: Thu, 27 Oct 2016 11:39:32 +0100
> From: "Aongus Mac Cana" <amaccana at xxxxx <mailto:amaccana at xxxxx>>
> To: "Harp-L List" <harp-l at xxxxx <mailto:harp-l at xxxxx>>
> Subject: [Harp-L] Cleaning Chromatic Harmonicas
> Message-ID: <003201d2303e$6782b2d0$36881870$@net>
> Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="iso-8859-1"
> 
> That Hohner Workshop Video by Mr. Baker and Ms. Hand on this topic is
> terrific. I have saved it and will look at it again. Although I have become
> a total convert to Seydel harmonicas over the past few years, I still have a
> fair few Hohner Chromonicas and this video may encourage me to get one or
> two more.
> 
> Rick Epping ? also loyal to Hohner - told us at the Willie Clancy Summer
> Music School told us that harmonicas and reed plates can be cleaned in an
> ultrasonic cleaner without compromising the valves/windsavers.
> 
> I have invested in an ultrasonic cleaner, but haven?t plucked up the courage
> to put one of my harmonicas in it yet.
> 
> Beannachta?
> 
> Aongus Mac Cana