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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! > How to make your own harmonica valves. Video.
How to make your own harmonica valves. Video.
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isaacullah
2364 posts
Mar 05, 2013
6:34 AM
Hi folks! I've been messing with half valving for a couple of years now, and a few months back I figured out what I think is a really neat, easy, cheap way to make your own really effective valves at home. I've made a video showing you exactly how to do it! Enjoy!



FYI, I've got another video in the works where I talk about how I approach learing valved bends and other techniques that the half-valved diatonic is good for! keep an eye out for that in the next couple of days!
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HarveyHarp
468 posts
Mar 05, 2013
7:40 AM
Nice. Thanks for sharing. I will try that today.

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harpdude61
1635 posts
Mar 05, 2013
8:00 AM
Good stuff my friend. I had not a clue about any of this!
isaacullah
2365 posts
Mar 05, 2013
4:49 PM
Glad to be of service! I'll try to get the follow up video uploaded tomorrow! :-)
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Thievin' Heathen
165 posts
Mar 05, 2013
8:56 PM
Nice. Valves were next on my list. I acquired some very interesting foil/film tape when I changed out the printer head on my laserjet printer a few weeks ago and I've been itching to try it as valve material, but it looks like you've done a lot of R&D to get to the gaffers tape.

Nice Alfred Hitchcock type ending to your video. I am left in suspense. I wanted to hear it.
oldwailer
1955 posts
Mar 05, 2013
9:14 PM
Good work, Isaac! Thanks for the information. . .
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Martin
271 posts
Mar 06, 2013
5:18 AM
Interesting. I valved a few harps many years ago when my resistance to manual labor was still managable; now you´ve perked my interest again.

Two questions:
1) Have you tried this for any longer period of time? That is, does the tape glue hold up? Moist can do things to adhesives.

2) How about sticking valves -- are there no problems, even in a longer time period? (The sticking issue is one reason why I´m reluctant to valving: you can´t really let go if you´re worried about those effing valves all the time.)
Frosty
125 posts
Mar 06, 2013
6:17 AM
Very nice solution.What is the exact product name of the tape you are using? Can you mention some other product names which are or might be as good as the one you are using?

I am asking because at least in Finland they seem to sell some cheaper tapes saying it is gaffers tape. And it might be that they also do not have the exact product you are using. Thanks!

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isaacullah
2366 posts
Mar 06, 2013
8:30 AM
Hi guys! I'm happy to answer your questions. First, Martin's questions:

1) I've had one harp with these valves in it for approximately 3 months now. The adhesive is still going strong. This tape is different from other tapes in that regard. The properties of the adhesive used in gaffers is a very important part of why these valves work as well as they do...

2) In the three or so months since I've been using these type of valves I have had not ONE sticking valve, even after an hour of play (including TB and chording, with a reasonable amount of saliva getting into the harp)

3) (extra info) The ONLY problem I've had with these valves are from not curling them properly (ie., that one or two valves I made curled up away from the plate). That problem is solved by curling them tightly around a piece of wire (like a paperclip) BEFORE applying them. Rolling them from the adhesive edge outwards produces a better curvature, and largely prevents "curl away".

Now, to answer Frosty's questions:

The exact product I'm using is JVCC brand Gaffers tape, available at Amazon for a little more than $12 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000QDRRIE/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I chose this brand based on the results of this survey: https://www.findtape.com/product321/FindTape-GAFF-TEST-PACK-Gaffers-Tape-Challenge-Pack.aspx#survey-results, and from other comments around the 'net that suggest it a) has a better adhesive than most (doesn't leave residue), and b) has a better cloth like "hand" to the tape material.

Hope that helps!

~Isaac

PS: Thievin', I'm sorry to have left you with a cliff hanger!!! I'll try to get the next episode up later today! :-)
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Frosty
126 posts
Mar 06, 2013
8:41 AM
Thank you very much Isaac!

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Martin
272 posts
Mar 06, 2013
12:59 PM
Thank you kindly, Isaac -- and thanks Frosty for asking my next question. (It´ll be a problem finding that tape in Sweden, that´s clear already.)
isaacullah
2370 posts
Mar 06, 2013
1:57 PM
You guys are very welcome! Hopefully you can find another brand of true gaffers tape that has similar properties to the JVCC brand. I think that another brand of similar price will be good enough for this too (although I don't have any specific experience with other brands)...
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