Mahcks
34 posts
Apr 02, 2015
8:43 AM
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I've tried embossing several times in the past, but my method always involved embossing both sides of the slot at the same time. A couple days ago I tried using one of my cheap awls while doing just one side of the slot at a time. I feel pretty foolish that it took me so long to try it.
Anyway, my cheap awls are getting scraped up and less effective. Does anyone else use this sort of tool? What brand do you use? What material should it be made of to work best on whatever the reed plates are made of?
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mlefree
279 posts
Apr 02, 2015
11:07 AM
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Mahcks, I'm not understanding how you use an awl to emboss. Do you use the sharp tip and if so, how? Or do you use the side of the awl blade, and if that is the case, why would that have any advantage over other embossing tools?
I do know that accordion makers use an awl to score a deep scratch line right next to the reed slot, forcing some of the slot-side metal closer to the reed. I've never tried it but I know Rick Epping has done this with harmonicas.
Michelle
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SilverWingLeather.com
email: mlefree@silverwingleather.com
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Mahcks
35 posts
Apr 02, 2015
12:28 PM
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I slide the side of it down the slot at an angle to push the material into the slot. It might not exactly be an awl that I'm using, but others have called it an that. http://m.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-Household-Tool-Set-4-Piece/1207839
I don't really know what others are using for this, but the couple of videos I've seen have shown people using coins or other round objects to press both sides of the slot at once. Perhaps I would benefit from a reed wrench, but it has been in my (limited) experience that a perfectly centered reed is simply unrealistic.
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arnenym
345 posts
Apr 02, 2015
1:45 PM
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I use a UST sizing tool made by Masterharp-Dick Sjoeberg.
I believe you can buy one on Seydel nowadays.
You can emboss (or size) one side at the time and you get a real good result. Googleon UST sizing tool and you will find some information.
Last Edited by arnenym on Apr 02, 2015 1:46 PM
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20REEDS
23 posts
Apr 02, 2015
5:25 PM
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I love and recommend the UST tool however I believe that WITH CAUTION and patience, and xacto-knife could achieve similar results when used at an angle with mineral oil
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arzajac
1622 posts
Apr 02, 2015
7:04 PM
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I offer an embossing tool in my toolkit. It's a sizing-type tool. You can get to the base of the reed as well as the free end with it. There are benefits to full-slot embossing, much more so than just embossing the free end aggressively.
You can't reach to the base of the reed with a pick or an awl. An exacto-knife can get the job done, but because it's thin and sharp, you can easily scrape away your work. I think a tool with a rounded surface and just the right angle to be able to reach into the slot is ideal.
I offer a free download pdf instruction on how to emboss full-slot with a sizing tool on my website (you don't need to buy anything). There's also a video on the tools page.
harp.andrewzajac.ca/tools
I made another video about a great technique to save time and get pro-level results using simple tools a while back, too. It's in the blog section.
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Custom overblow harps. Harmonica service and repair.
Last Edited by arzajac on Apr 03, 2015 10:52 AM
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