Pauly21
42 posts
Jun 08, 2013
11:16 AM
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Guys, I have a WM. Kratt Co, Super 48 chromatic harp. It is over 25 years old, and I don't even know where I got it. I've begun playing it recently, and it's got a sharp metallic taste. How can I clean it without ruining it?
Thanks.
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WinslowYerxa
334 posts
Jun 08, 2013
3:53 PM
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The taste is probably coming from the mouthpiece. You can unscrew the two screws at the right and left ends of the mouthpiece. Under that is a slide cage that goes between the mouthpiece and the slide, then the slide, then the backing plate that lays agains the comb and reedplates.
The screws will be encased in two short plastic or rubber tubes - the bumpers - that protect teh screw threads from being damaged by the slide. The slide spring sticks through the backing plate and goes in a pinhole in the slide, so that the slide will spring back to the out position after you press and then release the slide button.
First job is not to lose, break, or bend any parts.
The backing plate, slide, slide cage (aka U-channel for its rofile shape) and mouthpiece can all be cleaned with a toothbrush and warm, soapy water. You can use non-abrasive metal cleaner such as MAAS polish for oxidation and the more stubborn stains.
When cleaning the slide, hang the button off the edge of the table or sink so that the slide can lie flat - you don't want to bend it out of its flat shape.
When everything is clean, lay the backing plate on the comb with the notch for the slide spring on the left side, thread the slide spring into the slide and lay the slide on the backing plate, then install the slide cage, which may have tabs that lock into notches in the backing plate.
Thread the screws into the mouthpiece and slide the bumpers onto the screws. (If the bumpers are missing or have disintegrated, make new ones by cutting sections off a plastic ballpoint pen refill).
Make sure to align the slide so that the notch cut for the slide spring is mounted over the slide spring.
Thread the screws through the holes in the other metal parts, then lay the mouthpiece in the slide cage, align, and then tighten the screws until the slide binds (won't move). Then back off each screw until the slide moves freely, then make fine adjustments. You want the screws as tight as possible while still allowing the slide to move freely.
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Winslow
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WinslowYerxa
338 posts
Jun 08, 2013
6:09 PM
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If the mouthpiece is unplated metal, you might coate it with clear acrylic. Hang the mouthpiece up from a thread, then find some clear acrylic spray and follow the directions on the can to get an even coat - or two or three coats. Let it dry from maybe a day, and re-install it.
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Winslow
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Pauly21
45 posts
Jun 09, 2013
5:08 AM
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thanks!
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fred_gomez
97 posts
Jun 09, 2013
9:41 AM
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i use a plastic tube from a pen while working on cleaning that i stick in the spring hole. sometimes the wood is weak and the spring is ready to bust through. this safeguards it while youre busy cleaning.
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WinslowYerxa
341 posts
Jun 09, 2013
2:06 PM
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Good tip, Fred. Especially on older wood-bodied chromatics that have seen a lot of use, the pressure exerted by the spring - which presses out toward the end of the harp, where the wall between the spring well and the end of the comb can be really thin to begin with - can wear through the wood.
It might also be worthwhile to observe whether leaving that sleeve in place might be worthwhile. If its thickness does not prevent the slide from returning all the way to the out position, you might just leave it in place for permanent protection. But you'd have to experiment a bit to determine whether this is workable with that individual instrument.
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Winslow
Last Edited by WinslowYerxa on Jun 09, 2013 2:07 PM
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fred_gomez
98 posts
Jun 09, 2013
4:16 PM
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nah its too thick to work like that. im on the lookout for old school click pens. they had a metal tube between the two peices you screw together that may work. you need something very thin and very strong like steel. then you could just stick some wood dough where a spring has busted out.sand paint seal. i also use a pen ink tube with all the ink gone on chromes. those pvc iv tubes they use on the screws dont hold anything in place and the spring makes the slider go flying. i cut little barrels from the ink tube and insert them in the holes. then the first plate, then i attach the slider to the spring and flip it over my hard plastic pen tubes. then my final plate and mouth peice the screws go right in everything in perfect place. i throw the original slide stops out.
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WinslowYerxa
342 posts
Jun 09, 2013
5:25 PM
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Yeah, a lot o players use the hard plastic pen refills for screw bumpers.
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Winslow
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