florida-trader
505 posts
Jul 29, 2014
8:45 PM
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Ever since I started making combs, guys have been asking me to make CNC Milled Recessed combs for the Hohner Special 20. It is an expensive process to design them, write the code and have them made so I stayed away from them – until now.
These are pictures of prototype combs for the Hohner Special 20 and the Seydel Session Steel. You can click on any of them to see several more pictures. The prototypes are milled aluminum which has been polished to a glossy finish. The final products will probably be anodized or have some sort of protective coating. They will also be available in Dupont™ Corian®, Fancy Acrylic and probably Brass. I have sent prototypes out to a few well respected members of the harmonica community – both customizers and professional players - for their review and suggestions. I have received some very good ideas for improvements which will be incorporated into the final product. If you happen to be one of the guys who has reviewed a prototype, please feel free to offer your thoughts.
I am a few weeks away from going into production and will make an announcement when they are available. I have to admit – I’m pretty excited about them.
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Tom Halchak
www.BlueMoonHarmonicas.com
Last Edited by florida-trader on Jul 29, 2014 8:46 PM
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STME58
1006 posts
Jul 29, 2014
10:08 PM
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Those look great! I am just curious so if you don't think it is giving away a secret, are those done in one setup on a more than 3 axis machine, or do you have to re-fixture them to do the mouthpiece openings? Either way great effort and a good looking product.
I have wondered how a hard coat grey anodizing would work on a comb.I don't know about the process or it's cost but it is twice a thick as standard anodizing and more scratch resistant so you would be less likely to damage it and end up with a galvanic cell between the brass reed plate and aluminum comb you sometimes get with anodized aluminum.
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florida-trader
506 posts
Jul 30, 2014
4:08 AM
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My machinist does have a 3-axis machine and that might be how we do them when we move into production. But the prototypes were re-fixtured and cut one side at a time.
With regard to anodizing - two thoughts. One, I have never had an issue with my aluminum combs chipping; and two, I have to be careful about how thick the anodizing is because it might impact the flatness and the fit of the reed plate. Your idea is worth considering though. Thanks.
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Tom Halchak
www.BlueMoonHarmonicas.com
Last Edited by florida-trader on Jul 30, 2014 4:08 AM
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harpoon_man
63 posts
Jul 30, 2014
5:41 AM
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Way cool, Tom - can't wait to try one of these. I know a local part-time customizer in my area (Mark Vesser) that will be very excited about this.
-Rusty
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Frank
4959 posts
Jul 30, 2014
7:29 AM
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Will there be wood Tom?
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Todd Parrott
1229 posts
Jul 30, 2014
11:20 AM
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I have one of the prototypes and I really like the look of it. Makes the Special 20 look very classy on the shiny aluminum comb. For players who prefer the feel of the recessed combs, I think these will be great. I have recently started to get back into Special 20's myself, so I'm excited that there will now be more color options for them.
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florida-trader
507 posts
Jul 30, 2014
1:09 PM
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Thanks for the positive comments. Much appreciated.
Frank - I hadn't planned on making them out of wood. The material gets pretty thin in spots - around the edge and at the front of the comb - and wood is simply not as strong as aluminum or brass or Corian. The risk of chipping is pretty high. That said it is a possibility. I just had some Marine Band combs cut from Granadilla and that stuff seems to be solid as a rock. We'll see.
FWIW, Todd has the distinction of being the first to use one of the SP20 combs on stage. He used it on a couple of songs this week. Pretty cool - huh?
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Tom Halchak
www.BlueMoonHarmonicas.com
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nacoran
7892 posts
Jul 30, 2014
6:43 PM
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On Franks question, it would mean an extra set of cuts, but maybe for a premium you could design a hybrid? Would it be possible to make a screw on raised rim and screw it onto a wooden comb? I don't know if you could do it and keep it airtight.
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Nate
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First Post- May 8, 2009
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jnorem
475 posts
Jul 30, 2014
7:50 PM
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All I can say is: finally. Well done, Tom.
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Call me J
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Brad Arvidson
9 posts
Jul 30, 2014
8:14 PM
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Hi Tom
How about Hogany?
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florida-trader
508 posts
Jul 31, 2014
1:29 AM
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Brad. I can do that.
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Tom Halchak
www.BlueMoonHarmonicas.com
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HarveyHarp
597 posts
Jul 31, 2014
8:35 AM
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I am one of the Lucky recipients of a Blue Moon Special 20 set in comb. It is a work of art, and I love the mouthpiece. There is nothing sharp to bite you anywhere on the harp, except perhaps the stock coverplate screws and they can be changed to Binding screw type. I measured the combs with my granite surface plate and a dial indicator set up, and it was pretty darn flat. I mounted a brand new set of reedplates from a brand new Special 20 and it played really good. So good, in fact, that I put the stock comb back on it so I could see how it played stock. I know that I should have done that first, but I got excited . Anyway, there is a BIG difference in performance between the stock and the Blue Moon. I did not even flatten the draw plate, and it felt tight. In a few days I will customize the plates and see how good I can make a special 20 play. Your mouth never touches brass on this comb, and therefore no bad taste at all. Good Job Tom.
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HarveyHarp
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Gus
13 posts
Jul 31, 2014
10:46 AM
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They look awesome! Nice job.
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STME58
1008 posts
Jul 31, 2014
11:22 AM
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" One, I have never had an issue with my aluminum combs chipping; and two, I have to be careful about how thick the anodizing is because it might impact the flatness and the fit of the reed plate."
I think this shows, in part, why your products turn out so well. Instead of jumping up to the next level you are looking at what is the real problem, and is the current process being done correctly. It seems so simple but it is really rather rare.
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florida-trader
509 posts
Jul 31, 2014
12:38 PM
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Technology is a wonderful thing.
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Tom Halchak
www.BlueMoonHarmonicas.com
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GMaj7
487 posts
Aug 01, 2014
5:28 AM
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This is next level stuff. The Session Steel aluminum comb is amazingly smooth and the reed plates snapped into place. Because the combs are solid and precisely milled, the fit overall was much tighter so I had to compensate a bit and open my reed gaps.
The front was as smooth as I had ever felt on a comb and Tom reports that the finished product will be even smoother.
Pretty amazing stuff.
Combs don't turn you Howard Levi or Jason Ricci anymore than sunglasses make you play like Kim Wilson. However, it is always nice for the players to have options and this option is obviously in demand as already have orders for these combs.
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Greg Jones
16:23 Custom Harmonicas
greg@1623customharmonicas.com
1623customharmonicas.com
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florida-trader
510 posts
Aug 02, 2014
9:37 AM
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By the way, since I a still in the R & D stage of this project (albeit closer to the end than the beginning) I would be interested in hearing some input about what types of materials any of you might be interested in. At present, I make combs out of wood, aluminum, solid surface (Corian), Hogany, brass and acrylic. How about color preferences?
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Tom Halchak
www.BlueMoonHarmonicas.com
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jnorem
538 posts
Aug 17, 2014
2:30 PM
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I'd prefer the CNC aluminum in its natural color, as pictured above.
How's it coming with these combs, Tom? And, will you take advance orders?
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Call me J
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florida-trader
514 posts
Aug 17, 2014
5:49 PM
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J. I have just returned from two weeks of vacation and I am in ready to get back to work. I got some great feedback from the guys I sent prototypes to and I am still open to suggestions as we speak. I expect to begin "production" of these within the next week or two. Ordinarily I would automatically anodize aluminum combs but if you want them as is, I'm OK with that. I'll be making them out of Corian, Acrylic and Brass too. Those need to be polished but none of that is a lengthy process. If you want to send me an email letting me know what you would like I would be happy to accept your advance order.
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Tom Halchak
www.BlueMoonHarmonicas.com
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jnorem
541 posts
Aug 17, 2014
6:24 PM
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Thank you Tom.
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Call me J
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STME58
1035 posts
Aug 17, 2014
6:28 PM
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J, you may like the look of unfinished aluminum, but without an insulating coating like anodize or clear coat, it will create a galvanic cell with the brass reed plate and deliver a voltage to your tongue that you will perceive as a salty or "battery" taste. Brass to aluminum gives somewhere between .4 and .8 volts so if you want to see what it tastes like take a 1.5 volt battery, lick a finger and touch it to the negative side and touch your tongue to the positive side. This will put that range of voltage on you tongue. Perhaps the recessed reed plate design will prevent your tongue from touching both the comb and the reed plate but if it does you will taste it.
If the comb were made out of pure aluminum (1100 grade) it would hold up against corrosion better than the typical aluminum alloys and would take a very bright polish (pure aluminium is used for mirrors when a high level of reflectance is required). Pure aluminum is very soft and damages easily. I am sure it has plenty of strength for a harmonica comb though. I think you would get some push back from a machinist if you asked them to mill 1100 grade as the softness makes it hard to machine.
Last Edited by STME58 on Aug 17, 2014 6:31 PM
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jnorem
542 posts
Aug 17, 2014
6:57 PM
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Thank you for that, STME58. I believe I'll let Tom answer that.
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Call me J
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STME58
1037 posts
Aug 17, 2014
7:30 PM
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If someone wanted to get creative you might be able to power a very small LED with the .4 to .8volts created when your tongue bridges between a brass reed plate and an aluminum comb.
If you used a magnesium comb and a stainless steel reed plate you could get about 1.6 volts. Might take a bit getting used to to play though.
I am getting a bit off topic but I will say I have two of Tom's combs and both of the harps I put them on were greatly improved. The aluminum come has a good looking blue anodize and I have never had a hint of "battery" taste with this comb and the brass reed plates that are mounted to it. The same can not be said for the stock aluminum comb Tom's comb replaced. I really like the recessed design shown in this thread. Mounting non grooved reed plates like the SP20s to a flat comb is a pain.
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jnorem
543 posts
Aug 17, 2014
7:39 PM
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My goodness, that's complicated!
The comb comes in brass, too. Maybe that would be a better choice.
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Call me J
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STME58
1038 posts
Aug 17, 2014
8:11 PM
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J, it's not as complicated as trying to understand tempering, ET, JI, perfect fifths Pythagorean comma and all that! :-) I am a professional engineer and I am learning a lot about music. At the highest levels I think music and engineering are similar in complexity and knowledge required. In both disciplines a lot can be accomplished by a motivated amateur.
I don't know if brass is a better choice, some of the free machining brasses contain lead. A brass comb and a brass reed plate will not create a galvanic cell that will send voltage through you tongue. Of course neither will a well anodized aluminum comb. Brass is a great base metal to put chrome plating on.
Having dealt with Tom, I think he can guide you to a good solution. He seems to know what he is doing and how to pick good people to work with that have the skills to get things done right.
Last Edited by STME58 on Aug 17, 2014 8:14 PM
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A440
191 posts
Aug 17, 2014
11:04 PM
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Tom - these combs look fantastic!
Just a thought to consider: on the SP20 comb, maybe add an extra pair of holes to allow it to also work with Rocket covers? Or even 4 extra holes to also accept MBD/XO covers? (I think the Rocket holes are in the same place as front holes on MBD/XO.) Since the extra holes would be hidden when using SP20 covers, there is no real downside.
Last Edited by A440 on Aug 17, 2014 11:06 PM
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florida-trader
515 posts
Aug 18, 2014
4:50 AM
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A440. Great idea. Thanks for the suggestion. That is one of the updates. I got a Rocket since I posted these pics. I took it apart and compared it to the SP20. My combs will be set up to receive either the Special 20 reed plates and covers or the Rocket's.
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Tom Halchak
www.BlueMoonHarmonicas.com
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Nibiria
35 posts
Aug 18, 2014
9:14 AM
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So, for clarity purposes (I'm a bit of a novice)...these will be the same type combs as are shipped with the SP20 and different than what's currently offered on your site?
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nacoran
7949 posts
Aug 18, 2014
11:20 AM
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I don't see any reason why it wouldn't, but you might want to test it with Turbolids. I know you sell lids too, but they are so different from standard lids that some people may want to have that option.
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Nate
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First Post- May 8, 2009
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florida-trader
516 posts
Aug 19, 2014
7:27 AM
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Nibiria - To clarify. The combs pictured on this thread are CNC milled custom combs that will fit the Hohner Special 20 and the new Rocket. They are recessed combs. the Special 20 combs that are currently available on my website are flat combs and they are being discontinued. I do still have some available and in fact, they can be used to build Marine Bands. But when they are gone, I will only be offering the recessed combs in the future. Hope that makes sense.
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Tom Halchak
www.BlueMoonHarmonicas.com
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