ValleyDuke
41 posts
Jun 05, 2016
1:45 AM
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Very excited about these new Lee Oskar combs from Blue Moon Harmonicas. I love Lee Oskars but the plastic combs hurt my lips. I read about ABS plastic, and it's acrylic mixed with rubber. And some of that material is rubbed away by playing. I hate to say it, but it's like dragging your lips over a car tire. Great for injection molding, not so great for kissing.
When I can afford it, my favorite combs are aluminum or corian, and these corian combs look gorgeous:
Black Lee Oskar corian combs
Corian is a mixture of aluminum powder and acrylic.
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Spderyak
84 posts
Jun 05, 2016
3:51 AM
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I would think the aluminum would be lightest of all.
With the corian I am curious if they break easily as happened to a friend of mine when he accidentally dropped on of his harps ?
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ValleyDuke
42 posts
Jun 05, 2016
4:17 AM
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I find it hard to believe that a corian comb would break that way, especially sandwiched between two brass plates held together with lots of brass screws.
I do know another advantage is that corian can be cleaned easily vs. wood.
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Owen Evans
145 posts
Jun 05, 2016
8:35 AM
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Just want to chime in here with some experience using combs from Blue Moon. (Great updated website Tom Halchak!) NOTE: You must flatten your reed plates or you won't get the full performance of these really flat combs!
I have dropped the corian comb in my Crossover several times and NO it has not broken. The acrylic combs are very smooth & comfortable to play. My hands down favourite is the black anodized aluminum comb. @Spderyak No it's not the lightest material (acrylic is, to my hands) but it is really comfortable to hold and especially to play. This is subjective but the tines are a little bit closer together than the original bamboo combs from Hohner and is easier to play for me. There are two anodized aluminum combs and I find the clear one has a texture that isn't as comfortable as the black one? One last note, cleaning Tom's combs is very easy and compared to scrubbing the gunk off of a sealed bamboo comb...night & day. I have at least one of each material with the exception of hogany. I advise you to try the materials for yourself as the choice of comfort & playability is truly subjective. Hope this is useful.
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Killa_Hertz
1549 posts
Jun 05, 2016
7:56 PM
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Agreed owens.
I was told the Corian is very brittle so i didn't get one for the longest time. But i ordered a few a couple months ago and they are great. And i have had them hit concrete with no problem. (Not on purpose ofcourse, but i tend to forget they are on my lap when getting out of the car. )
Wood is still a fantastic material to play (if not the best), but ofcourse it has its drawbacks.
Ive tried a few different aluminum combs and ive come to the conclusion that im not a fan.
I was unaware that corian was made that way. Thats interesting. Ive actually built DuPont Factories that make it, yet i didn't know what it was made of. Lol.
Owens ...do yourself a favor and try the Hogany. If i had to describe it i would say its similar to acrylic and corian, but i feel like it resonates better. I just really like it, what else can i say.
Adrews material is also very nice. And his combs are super flat. Very nice dark sound aswell. I want to try one of his wide combs.
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Owen Evans
146 posts
Jun 05, 2016
8:34 PM
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@Killa Hertz Thanks for the heads up on the Hogany! I'll see Tom at SPAH & pick one up. Andrew makes a fine comb as I bought one. I could not get used to the way his tines are made. Bothered my tongue a lot as I am a TB player. Different strokes for different folks.
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ValleyDuke
43 posts
Jun 05, 2016
10:59 PM
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I think we can all agree that the ABS plastic sucks. I don't think I've ever heard someone say they prefer the ABS. I am a single note lip purser, and I just don't want that kind of plastic on my lips anymore. But it seems like a great time to be a harmonica consumer - so many options.
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mr_so&so
1029 posts
Jun 06, 2016
9:33 AM
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If a healthy, safe comb material is the issue, and maybe it isn't here, then Andrews combs are probably the best out there. I don't think any of the resin-based comb materials were designed to be in people's mouths. At least Andrew has checked into the safety of his combs. I have one Hogany comb and it causes me to salivate. That makes me wonder.
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1847
3468 posts
Jun 06, 2016
9:56 AM
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corian is extremely fragile. have you ever tried
to free a stuck reed by tapping it on a hard surface?
i did that and destroyed a brand new session steel comb.
i still prefer corian so i will be buying a few more eventually.
i see no issue with abs plastic. i have used them for years and years. sure beats the heck out of a swollen marine band comb any day of the week
Last Edited by 1847 on Jun 06, 2016 10:01 AM
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MindTheGap
1673 posts
Jun 06, 2016
10:15 AM
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I don't agree that the ABS combs are uncomfortable. Even though aesthetically I prefer the simple sandwich type, I choose recessed combs because of the comfort and so I don't get the taste of brass.
As for safety, I hope Lee Oskar use food-safe ABS but I expect none of these materials, including Corian, are designed to be put in your mouth like a harp is. And wood isn't necessarily safe just because it's a natural material.
I would have thought that one of the worst materials is aluminium. Or any other metal including brass. Who knows what kind of brass is used in their reed plates? Is it lead free, for instance?
Last Edited by MindTheGap on Jun 06, 2016 10:17 AM
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ValleyDuke
44 posts
Jun 06, 2016
11:24 AM
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@1847 That's a keeper
@MTG I'm not too worried about acrylic - I have acrylic drinking glasses, for example. But the ABS is rougher on my lips, and I'm definitely rubbing some of that material away. Reminds me of Bakelite.
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SuperBee
3824 posts
Jun 06, 2016
1:45 PM
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I don't have any drama with abs as a material but most injection moulded combs leave a little to be desired. Sp20 is the best of them ime . I like bamboo, and dislike any metal. Ask MP whether corian is brittle.
I think that comb broke in 3 when it hit the floor...maybe they are ok when assembled but definitely easily broken when not sandwiched.
I use a few Zajac combs and default TB. Just noticed a comb starting to feel a little rough and seems my saliva (I guess. Could be friction?) has worn the surface of the tines. Comb feels like a manji now. Nothing lasts forever I suppose...or maybe it does...
Last Edited by SuperBee on Jun 06, 2016 1:47 PM
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arzajac
1771 posts
Jun 06, 2016
2:26 PM
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The thing about the stock Hohner Sp20 and Rocket comb is that the ABS can flex a little sealing up small leaks. It's kind of a feature.
Does anyone who dislikes the SP20 comb feel the same about the Rocket comb?
Superbee, if one of my combs is defective, I will replace it. Just let me know what you need...
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Custom overblow harps. Harmonica Combs and Tools.
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SuperBee
3826 posts
Jun 06, 2016
3:40 PM
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Hi Andrew, I dunno I'd say defective. When you play something by repeated contact (even with a tongue) it seems reasonable there could be some wear I think. The concern would be about what is possibly being ingested I suppose. I am not sure if there is a lacquer on the surface that may have worn away or dissolved? I have probably had this one for a long time and it's probably the harp I pick up most every day...a marine band key A...gets played maybe 5-7 hours a week, and a lot of tongue work on the low end. it's only very recently after playing for a while I notice it's a little rough under the tongue-tip, like a manji. Nowhere near as rough as an unlacquered marine band..if there is a smooth coat I guess I may have just worn it off, or otherwise my saliva is probably corrosive. Or a combination of friction and saliva...I would not doubt that. I've seen what my skin does to gold-plate spectacle frames, and what my sweat does to alloy bicycle frames.
Last time I had a harp played as regularly as this was a marine band deluxe, key A, and after 18 months of this regular use the original comb was in much worse shape.
I should add that I have well over a dozen of these combs, and I'm very satisfied with them.
Last Edited by SuperBee on Jun 06, 2016 6:44 PM
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2chops
526 posts
Jun 06, 2016
6:37 PM
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I just had 2 of my chroms come back from Mike Easton. On my 260 I had him put a corian comb on it. So far I really like it. But Mike did tell me to be careful with it. I've always been particular about how I handle my harps. But this one gets a little extra care now.
I only have one harp with a metal comb. A pre MS Meisterklas. Sweet playing harp. Hefty. To me the taste of it is neither good nor bad. Just different. I have a busted 7 blow reed on it that does need replaced though. Slip of the plinker when gapping. Ahhhhh!
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I'm workin on it. I'm workin on it.
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Killa_Hertz
1550 posts
Jun 06, 2016
11:37 PM
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Corian and alot of the materials for harps are good for the mouth. Corian is an anti bacterial surface.
Andrew ive had the same issue with two of your combs. I think they just do that. My tines from about 1 - 4or5 are worn down thru the liquid glass. Could just redip em or something i guess. They do have a nice dark sound. Good for the higher harps aswell as the low. I really dig the sound out of em.
I personally love the feel of the Session Steel ABS against my lips. The sp20 seems to be more rough and not have the same smooth finish.
1847 .... well stop beating your harps to free stuck reeds. Lol. I sometimes will smack it on my palm. But usually to free a stuck reed .... it works if you bend that reed. For example if 6blow is stuck do a 6 draw bend.
I'm not saying corian us invincible. But ive dropped mine a couple times hard. And it survived.
I dropped a pearwood 1896 comb that i spend like 2 hours carefully shaping the tines all round, flattening it, laceured it with 4 coats, reflattened the laceur. Then i Fawkin dropped it and broke a tine off of it. So nothing is bullet proof. But i would think the Hogany is close. I dont know what's its made out of. Other than Wood In A Can. Wharves that's made of. But they sure are pretty and sound nice.
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arzajac
1772 posts
Jun 07, 2016
8:01 AM
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Killa - I'm sorry that happened - my aim is that the comb should outlast your harp. Out of thousands of combs I have made, I only have gotten a few corner cases where this sort of thing happens.
It's a balance between glossiness, comfort, durability and environmental friendliness but I have other options - I just never had the need to explore them but perhaps I should. Maybe I can send you a prototype to test to see if you can destroy it? Let me know if you are interested!
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Custom overblow harps. Harmonica Combs and Tools.
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STME58
1729 posts
Jun 07, 2016
8:46 AM
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Cast polymers such as Corian, are typically used as substitute for stone surfaces (granite Marble etc). Is anyone aware of any stone combs? Production would require a specialized skill set, but I think onyx or jade or marble might make an interesting comb.
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ValleyDuke
45 posts
Jun 07, 2016
9:33 AM
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@STME58 That would be so cool - caveman style. How about poured and polished concrete?
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ValleyDuke
47 posts
Jun 07, 2016
9:43 AM
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@STME58 I love that idea - how about poured and polished concrete?
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Killa_Hertz
1553 posts
Jun 07, 2016
10:21 AM
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Stme. I have been thinking that for a while now. A granite comb would be Boss. I don't know if they could cut it accurately or not. It may tend to break in the process.
Andrew ... I would jump at the opportunity to test anything you can come up with. Your Material is great. Ive just had these minor issues. But they sound awesome. And i had to play them a good while to get the wear to happen.
I find the combs i have (marine band) are a little thin for my taste, but marine bands are thin in comparison to other harps anyways. So that surely doesnt help. But the point is i would like to try one of your thicker models. Ive been wanting to order a thick model in Marine Band and Manji.
Let me know what you decide to do. I would be glad to be a test subject For anything you come up with. Lol.
One thing i really like about your combs is that you make the holes oblonged so you can set them how you want. This also makes it the perfect comb for converting the 1896 to screws. Other combs with precise holes are tough to get right.
Thanks Andrew.
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harpdaddy
12 posts
Jun 07, 2016
11:58 AM
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I have several Corian combs from Tom and have yet to break one. I have 3 of his Lee Oskar acrylic combs and even though I flatten the draw reed plate even without doing that they are tighter than the stock combs. The reason ABS combs have all those empty spaces is so the plastic will cool evenly and not warp and not for anything strategic to making the harp sound better. Tom's combs are also slightly larger in dimension and with his radiused holes have a great feel on the mouth and tongue.
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ValleyDuke
48 posts
Jun 07, 2016
12:53 PM
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My comment keeps getting zapped by the spam filter so I'll try to make it longer - how about poured concrete in a mold and then polished? I say, how about poured concrete, in a mold, and then polished flat? I think concrete polished floors look nice. Plus, you can put powder in it for different colors. There, that should trick that tricky spam filter.
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Killa_Hertz
1556 posts
Jun 08, 2016
9:03 AM
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Valley duke. Concrete countertops are nice. But i think your talking about Terazo. Which is basically the same thing. But that's a good idea.
Andrew ... Sorry. I want to modify my last statement. I thought the combs were thinner, but they are the same as stock and other customs for MB.
It's just the Marine Bands i have been playing lately are the ones with your combs. Because they are so flat and tight. So in comparison to my Manjis, 1847s and Session Steels they are obviously much thinner, but it had nothing to do with your combs.
Having said that, i still think i would prefer your Thicker Models. I'm so used to the bigger harps now. SS, Manji, 1847. And im not exactly a small guy. 6'2" 230lbs. So the big ones just fit my hands and embouchure better (insert penis joke here).
But i would be glad to help you test any new adjustments or ideas. Your extra time spent flattening your combs to fine tollerance, really set your combs appart from the rest.
After the post yesterday, I spent a little more time and attention to your combs. And they really are excellent. I can't wait to try one on a Manji. And a thicker marine band model.
Are your manji combs thicker that your standard marine band comb???
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Last Edited by Killa_Hertz on Jun 08, 2016 9:07 AM
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mlefree
684 posts
Jun 08, 2016
9:49 AM
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This thread is now veering dangerously close to the dreaded comb material tar pit.
Never the less, FWIW, Vern Smith created a molded concrete comb for his first SPAH blinded comb material test in 1997.
Like the other materials, no one was able to tell one comb material from another, including one made from styrofoam.
Michelle
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SilverWing Leather - Custom leather creations for musicians and other eccentrics.
Last Edited by mlefree on Jun 08, 2016 9:50 AM
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Killa_Hertz
1557 posts
Jun 08, 2016
10:30 AM
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I agree Michelle that the sound to the listener is probably all the same. And even if it isn't the ear self adjusts sounds quite a bit anyways. Although brass may be one that you can tell, i think.
But for me its the way a material resonates when your playing it. The way the tines feel. Sometimes the added weigh or just slightly more solid feeling. The increased durability and lack of swelling, so the longevity of the material. Also there's just the added bonus of the asthetics. Even the way a comb tastes and smells. The 1847 classic i just got tastes/smells like burnt bamboo. And has a real light resonance to it. I really like it. Also the tine and hole shape is great.
Surely the flatness is the most important one. But that is regardless of material.
Anyhow, i know how much everyone hates these comb talks, but i just just think at the very least it makes the playing experience more enjoyable.
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Last Edited by Killa_Hertz on Jun 08, 2016 10:32 AM
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Spderyak
85 posts
Jun 08, 2016
11:50 AM
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I remember holding one harp, that was noticeably a bit heavier but didn;t think much of it till same friend said he had 4 but would hold of on getting more. When I asked why he said the combined weight would make his belt to heavy. Must admit I hadn't thought of that.
He is blind and wears his harps in a custom belt (I think it holds 12 harps)
pretty sure those harps were corian, but it could have been a different material that might also be a bit heavier..
Still he was interesting that the combined weight of several harps would be noticeable...
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Killa_Hertz
1558 posts
Jun 08, 2016
12:12 PM
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Very true. I highly doubt it was corian. Corian isn't really heavier just has a more solid feeling I think. The extra weight isn't really noticeable. Althought maybe with 12 it could be a bigger difference.
But im willing to bet it was aluminum or something like that.
Come to think of it my seydel 12 case is a bit heavier now than it was full of 1896s. 8^)
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florida-trader
925 posts
Jun 08, 2016
6:06 PM
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Just a couple of thoughts about some of the things that have been mentioned on this thread.
To begin with, you can improve the quality of just about any stock comb. Pear wood combs can be flat sanded to help make a more airtight harp. ABS Special 20 combs can be polished to get rid of the sharp edges. Todd Parrott recently posted a Special 20 on the For Sale page that had a polished ABS comb and it looked really nice. Of course, some combs are beyond hope – like the Marine Band comb 1847 posted. Aftermarket combs are a good solution in many cases and you can tell that both Andrew and I put a lot of thought at attention to detail into making our combs. So they are bound to be a step up from the average stock comb.
Several people have pointed out some issues with the custom combs they have purchased. Corian can crack. Resins used to coat the comb can wear off or come loose. These things happen. Nobody who has commented seems to be too bent out of shape over it so that is a good thing. Consider for a moment where we are today compared to where we were a few short years ago. The very reason that I got into the comb business was because I kept reading about how harmonica players wanted them and nobody seemed to be doing a particularly good job meeting the demand. Yesterday marked the 5th anniversary of my very first post here on Modern Blues Harmonica. For those of you who are not familiar with the history and want a good laugh, just google “Wood comb warning”. Use the quotes and it will be the first search result. I’ve been in business for over five years and I believe Andrew has been offering custom combs for over two – maybe more – I dunno. One thing we have in common is a commitment to customer service. Neither of us wants dissatisfied customers. So if you have an issue, you should feel free to bring it to our attention. Not only will we do whatever we can to solve the problem but we will get valuable feedback. The way I look at it is that you are doing me a favor. You are helping me get better at what I do. To me, that is the only attitude that works. And I don’t think this is unique to the harmonica world. It applies to every business.
Moving on, I offer a wide variety of materials but those are not the only materials that I have tried. I have experimented with a lot of other materials that just were not suitable for one reason or another. Too expensive or too fragile or whatever. If you are talking about making one comb, you can use just about anything. But making them in quantity at price that is affordable is another story.
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Tom Halchak
www.BlueMoonHarmonicas.com
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Killa_Hertz
1559 posts
Jun 08, 2016
6:31 PM
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Just out of curiosity Tom, What materials have your tried that didn't pan out??
Btw. Didn't mean to leave your combs out, if it seemed that way. You know i have quite a few of yours (over a dozen, ive lost count.) and think very highly of them aswell.
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florida-trader
926 posts
Jun 08, 2016
8:30 PM
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Killa - I've tried a lot of different kinds of wood that just didn't hold up well. I have tried polyester, Avonite, Dymondwood, Kirinite. I tried some iridescent material that milled nicely but the only place the iridescent qualities were visible were the parts where the comb mates with the reed plate so you couldn't see them.
The thing is that a lot of material is great if you use solid slabs or blocks but when you mill away all the material to make a comb - especially the slots between the tines, you remove a lot of the structural integrity of the piece. When you look at how thin a comb is at the base of the #1 slot, there just isn't much there. It is the weakest point.
I actually do have some solid 100% Teflon combs. They are pretty cool but I'm not sure if they would sell. We'll see. I just had a sample comb made from a phenalic that is cotton fiber and resin. That stuff is hard as a rock. I might get into doing that. I'm always looking for something new. I had a guy approach me about using hemp a while back. I just wasn't interested. Not my cup of tea.
You have been a great customer so there is no way that I feel slighted by you at all.
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Tom Halchak
www.BlueMoonHarmonicas.com
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Thievin' Heathen
763 posts
Jun 09, 2016
5:19 AM
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1 thing I noticed when I was working on some MS Pro-Harps, I had done a bunch of slot and reed work and everything was fine until I put the reed plate back in the plastic comb. At that point, the imperfections in the comb torqued the reed plate ever so slightly enough to make 1 of the reeds start clipping the side of its' slot. You won't get that from a custom comb, with the perfectly flat 100% surface coverage. Unless, of course, the reed plate started out life bent.
I really prefer not to work on MS harps. I might be wrong, but it seems like every reed(note) on every harp/key has a unique size.
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1847
3469 posts
Jun 09, 2016
8:23 AM
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some years ago i met a harp player who told me he would Teflon coat
a marine band comb. i was intrigued. i have researched the possibility with zero luck.
is it even possible to coat a wood comb? i would love to hear more about this.
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florida-trader
927 posts
Jun 09, 2016
10:25 AM
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I know that there are spray on teflon coatings and companies that offer teflon coating services so why not wood? My machinist was doing some work for another customer and was cutting some parts out of solid blocks of teflon. I asked him if we could use it for combs. A few weeks later he presented me with four teflon Manji combs. It is pretty soft material. They look nice. Pure white. I gave a couple to Jason to get his input. I haven't heard anything back from him on them yet. I put one on one of my own harps. I don't notice anything significantly better or worse about it. It is not a terribly expensive material to work with so that would raise the question of whether it would be better to use a coating or just mill parts out of blocks of pure teflon. At this point, I dunno.
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Tom Halchak
www.BlueMoonHarmonicas.com
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Spderyak
86 posts
Jun 09, 2016
12:18 PM
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I have a hohner pro harp which is black and peeling.
Is that also a Teflon coating on the covers or some other material?.. thanks..
years ago it was all about teflon coated pots an pans..we used to have some till we realized that as the coating flaked or scratched off we were more than likely swallowing it..keeps me wondering these days about teflon coatings in general.
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Killa_Hertz
1563 posts
Jun 09, 2016
12:18 PM
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Teflon may not be the best thing to put in your mouth. I know when the surface is scratched on Teflon coated frying pans es no bueno.
There are alot of great coatings used in the firearms world, but again not too keen on putting these things in my mouth.
I could be wrong. (But Its never happened before. )
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florida-trader
928 posts
Jun 09, 2016
1:32 PM
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We have been cooking our food on teflon for decades. If it wasn't safe to consume it would never have made it onto our pots and pans. The deal about scratching teflon surfaces is that when you do, you lose the non-stickiness of the pan.
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Tom Halchak
www.BlueMoonHarmonicas.com
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SuperBee
3833 posts
Jun 09, 2016
2:56 PM
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Teflon...safe to consume? Iirc this is pretty controversial.
'If it wasn't safe, it wouldn't have made it...'
Tom, you have a lot more confidence in the administration than I do. There are plenty of examples of things which have been 'approved' in the past which have been found to be quite unsafe.
Asbestos is a high profile example, but even in the world of food packaging there are some fairly dodgy practices...many involving the use of plastics.
Personally I avoid Teflon, even so far as to not vote for any politician with the word added to their name (eg 'Teflon John')
reputable balanced journalism about Teflon
So probably not a problem for a harp comb, if the manufacturing process doesn't concern you
Last Edited by SuperBee on Jun 09, 2016 3:30 PM
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ME.HarpDoc
162 posts
Jun 09, 2016
4:13 PM
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The chemist in me responds to the Teflon issue as follows: Alarms are often raised about any non-natural product and opinions are sometimes carried forward as facts even when science proves otherwise. Bee, notice the article you referenced was from 2006. The danger presented by using PFOE in the manufacturing process stopped in 2013. Even then there was only a question about it remaining in the material itself and being released when heated, such as when cooking with Teflon coated pans.
Ingestion of Teflon itself is unlikely a problem. In general, ingestion of low molecular weight organic compounds allow for absorption in the body while "long chain", high molecular weight organic compounds are not easily absorbed (that's an oversimplification but you get the idea). Teflon is one of those large compounds which is not absorbed. The concern for Teflon comes if heated above 350C (660F) where it can start to be broken down into smaller segments and subsequently inhaled, not a likely occurrence playing the harp.
Certainly you may choose to stay away from it, but it would be considered safe by scientific standards. I do fully respect anyone who stays on the side of caution. As you said, many "safe" things have ended up being bad as well as many "bad" things occasionally turn out to be good (e.g. coffee, wine, beer -- at least I like 'em!)
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SuperBee
3836 posts
Jun 09, 2016
7:05 PM
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The alcohol is good thing turned out to be a flawed study...based on moderate consumption subjects having better health than those who did not consume...but failed to account for the reasons those folk did not consume...further work found their abstinence was often due to pre existing health problem. Alcohol is pretty much a health risk at any level...but these things are relative...in Elizabethan London, low alcohol beer was much better for your health than water, but only because the water was bound to make you ill.
Yes, I did notice the age of the article and I notice that the last time I read a lot on the topic was 2009. But anyway, given DuPont's record with PFOA and their evident concern for environmental protection even if it costs them profits (jk), I'd rather avoid the product. I believe Corian is also a product trademarked by DuPont...and nylon was theirs too iirc...so there's no getting away from it of course...but Teflon is off my shopping list anyway.
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Dragonbreath
89 posts
Jun 09, 2016
8:55 PM
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For a comb, it sounds like teflon is safe. Even if bits where chaffed off, like by a moving reedplate or something, and found their way through our mouth, the molecules are too big to be absorbed by our body.
But FYI - Teflon PANS are NOT safe!
I would never ever buy a Teflon pan. Even though they might be safe at "recommended" temperatures, it's very easy to exceed the recommended cooking temperatures. I definitely don't trust myself and my stove when cooking. Pre-heating Teflon pan is a BIG no-no. I pretty much always pre heat my pans. How am I supposed to get a good sear without a hot pan? I don't put my food in cold pans. DuPont doesn't deny that over heating causes dangerous stuff to get released. They call the sickness feeling of inhaling toxic teflon fumes "polymer fume fever".
So be careful when using teflon pans, folks, don't pre-heat them or leave on stove unattended!
BTW, pretty much every non-stick coated pan, not only teflon, gets its coating destroyed by pre-heating, so stick to cast iron!
http://tuberose.com/Teflon.html
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STME58
1734 posts
Jun 09, 2016
10:40 PM
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Dragonbreath, that's an idea, a cast iron comb. You could investment cast it using a molded wax blank, drill it grind it flat, season it with oil like a frying pan, and you would have a unique and heavy comb.
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Dragonbreath
91 posts
Jun 09, 2016
11:27 PM
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And also get my daily dose of iron!
I'm gonna season it with rosemary and lemon oil!!
I just hope my pants don't fall off!
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ValleyDuke
49 posts
Jun 10, 2016
12:33 AM
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@florida-trader Titanium
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Killa_Hertz
1564 posts
Jun 10, 2016
3:12 AM
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Im only going to respond to this because its still at the top of the list.
All the chemistry talk was very interesting.
Im no chemist, but I am an electrician who happens to live in Delaware. Ive worked in every DuPont plant in the tristate area. Aswell as many other plants/factories/refineries/etc. And ill tell you DuPont is by far the worst. When it comes to their environmental conscience. The DuPont CambersWorks Plant is an absolute HorrorShow. They have major releases of chemicals like Terephthaloyl Chloride(TCL) which is tagged with the cute lil name of "Tickle" onsite, ICL, aswell as many Other chemicals in gas form that can be seen on seemigly annual major releases clouding the adjacent Delaware Memorial Bridge. Ofcourse they are hit with a fine and the wheels keep turning.
Put it this way. If your on a scaffold in ChambersWorks you have to have an ELSA pack with you. Which is an Emergency Life Saving Apparatus. Its a oxygen tank with a bag attached to throw over your head and RUN. Now why some outsiders may call this being overly cautious. Im here to tell you that no other site from Florida to Boston has ELSA packs.
I could go on for days about the Horror Stories Ive witnessed on their sites. So if they would subject workers and the general public to this on a day to day basis, why would they give a shit about the way their products impact the public?
I understand the teflon may not be as horrible as one may have been lead to believe. But i just wanted to give a little overview on DuPonts enviromental impact if nothing else. Aswell as their obvious compassion for human life. Lol.
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Thievin' Heathen
764 posts
Jun 10, 2016
5:12 AM
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And I thought DuPont moved all the nasty stuff to India(?).
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nacoran
9094 posts
Jun 10, 2016
8:49 AM
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ValleyDuke, there used to be a guy in Vermont who made titanium combs. I think his name was Mark Lavoie.
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Nate
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First Post- May 8, 2009
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florida-trader
929 posts
Jun 10, 2016
9:36 AM
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OK, OK - I get it! No Teflon Combs! Dang it, I was planning to pre-heat my harps to 350 degrees and then go play a gig, but I guess it's not worth the risk of inhaling those toxic fumes. :)
ValleyDuke - if you are willing to play about $100 per comb, I can make you Titanium combs. Nate - his name still is Mark Lavoie. I spoke with him about 2 weeks ago and indeed he was looking to sell a few of his Titanium MS combs. Anyone who is interested, I can put you in touch with him.
My cost to make a comb is a function of two things - Material Cost and Machine Time. Titanium is a very expensive material and it is super hard so it takes a long time to machine it. Hence, it would be very expensive to make.
About a year ago, someone visited our little community offering Stainless Steel MS-Series Combs. It was his first post. It was the only thread he ever contributed to. He made no effort to develop relationships with anyone on this forum. The combs looked nice. There were some tire kickers who expressed some interest. I followed him on eBay for a while but it just did not look like anyone was biting. He was charging, I think, $50 per comb. Nobody left him any feedback on eBay and nobody here on this forum reported back that they had purchased a comb from him and/or offered feedback. While this was going on, I asked my machinist about making some combs out of stainless. We talked about it. It would be expensive. I would probably have to charge more than $50 each to make it worth my while. I still might do it. You never know.
But seriously, it is the kind of feedback like we are seeing on this thread from you guys that helps me make my decisions. I frequently float ideas by you guys and ask for input. Your opinion does count and I do take it into consideration. After all, you are the potential buyers of my products so why not make them the way you want them?
When I first got started in this business I had no clue what was doing. It was a shot in the dark. I had no prior experience. I really had no idea what constituted a good comb vs. a bad comb. I didn't know anybody in the harmonica community. In reality, it was probably a bad idea. But then something magical happened. I was embraced by harmonica players. They validated my decision to get into the comb business. They were hungry for a good supplier and they appreciated the fact that I was a lump of clay willing to be moulded into somthing they could support. Blue Moon is purely a byproduct of market driven forces.
Today, I am very blessed. When I come up with something new, like the recessed Special 20 combs I came out with in late 2014, I was able to send prototypes to well respected players and customizers who could provide meaningful feedback. Heck, prior to that, the combs were 3D designed using modeling software. That alone was a huge leap forward as compared to how I first got started. The feedback I got from my friends enabled me to improve the product BEFORE I made it available for public consumption. I did the same thing with Lee Oskar combs just a few months ago. This is a huge blessing. And so, when you have a negative reaction to the idea of making teflon combs, it tells me something. And if I have any brains, I will listen. So thanks for speaking out. Your opinions do matter to me.
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Tom Halchak
www.BlueMoonHarmonicas.com
Last Edited by florida-trader on Jun 10, 2016 9:40 AM
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nacoran
9095 posts
Jun 10, 2016
2:33 PM
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A long time ago Germanharmonicist and I were brainstorming ideas for materials. The one we wanted to try was soap stone, but it turns out it's related to asbestos so we decided that was kind of a turn off!
Alon would be interesting, but a couple years back I looked at the prices and before machining the price for a piece seemed to be about $200 for something comb sized... maybe it will come down.
I also was interested to see what some memory metals or liquid metals would do as reeds. The liquid metals you can't really machine, and is only made by one company. The process is proprietary.
I love brainstorming ideas, but a lot of them run into issues when you get to the real world. One that someone might revisit was one Buddha was playing around with towards the end. He was using some sort of epoxy or resin with shredded fabric in it. They looked nice, and from what I understand of material science it should make for a really, really durable comb.
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Nate
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First Post- May 8, 2009
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ValleyDuke
50 posts
Jun 10, 2016
2:48 PM
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Tom and Andrew's stories make a good argument for the free market. The big companies didn't do it. And we harmonica players now get all the benefits.
ABS plastic was not chosen for it's playabilty or tone. But now we get to choose from combs that we like based on playability.
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