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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
True flat, reed screws, plates and combs
True flat, reed screws, plates and combs
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LevelUp
18 posts
Sep 05, 2017
4:50 AM
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Hi all,
I've recently become interested in flattening my plates and combs to perfect flat. I flat sanded a few draw plates and wooden combs, the difference was drastic.
So I ordered a few Zajack combs and a few other spare combs. My plan is to use the Zajack combs as a point of comparison for work I do myself. While I'd love to buy a set of custom harps, I've got other priorities right now financially. And besides, I love to work on my harps.
Anyway, I'm trying to think of everything I can do to get all mating surfaces as flat as possible.
One thing I'm thinking is to replace the rivets on the blow plate with screws. Reason being that I can then sand flat the plate, then screw on the reeds. I know rivets work, but then reattaching the reeds would likely distort the flatness I spent so long trying to achieve.
Another consideration is using the techniques that lens makers use to check flatness. Anybody tried this?
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arzajac
1835 posts
Sep 05, 2017
6:43 AM
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Your best bet is to use my F Tool to straighten the blow plate. Taking off the reeds and sanding the plate works up to the point where you put the reeds back on. You can warp the plates in doing that... No matter which method you use (rivet or screw) So you are back to square one.
I also offer a Comb Tool to help flattening. It's a lot easier and more stable than using one of my combs as a reference.
I hope that helps!
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Custom overblow harps. Harmonica Combs and Tools.
Last Edited by arzajac on Sep 05, 2017 8:46 AM
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LevelUp
20 posts
Sep 05, 2017
6:24 PM
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Hi Andrew,
I just received two of your combs. I popped one into a Manji. Immediate and massive improvement immediately. I'm very, very happy.
And am now second guessing if I can flatten a comb. I've been doing my own by hand for quite some time but evidently ineffectively. Really enjoy this, and I can see my self accumulating a full set.
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MP
3463 posts
Sep 06, 2017
3:13 PM
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Ditto what Andrew said. In a perfect world all harps would have the reeds attached w/ screws. I have an infamous, ill fated, B-Rad and it is a great idea that didn't fly.
Anyway...The amount of work involved in replacing 10 rivets w/ 10 screws is enormous even if you don't warp the plate and feel heavy sadness for all your labors.
One thing you could do to check for flatness is to check for leaks. Assemble the harp on the new comb and play it for awhile. Then disassemble and look for moisture on the comb and reed plates. Moisture will show problem areas. May as well check the bottom plate while you are at it cuz yah neva know. :-)
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Reasonably priced Reed Replacement and tech support on Hand Made Series Hohner Diatonic Harmonicas.
'Making the world a better place, one harmonica at a time.
Click MP for more info. Aloha Mark
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Last Edited by MP on Sep 06, 2017 3:19 PM
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