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Tools
Tools
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nacoran
6855 posts
Jun 12, 2013
11:31 PM
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I'm not talking about mass production, but what tools would you need for the following things-
-Reed work
-Custom combs (I've got a couple oddball designs I want to try, including one based on an old Magnus)
-Redrilling reed plates (converting nails to screws)
-Making covers (out of whatever- probably metal, but not beyond possibility making some wood)
-Comb engraving.
-Custom screws
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jim
1427 posts
Jun 13, 2013
3:33 AM
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-Reed work: I've got everything you will ever need.
- Custom combs: you need AutoCAD or something similar.
- Drilling: you need a stationary vertical drill, and good drill bits.
- Covers: can't really give any advice. I'd say some real heavy machinery is required.
- Comb engraving: a small engraver/dremel.
- Screws: you want to MAKE them?
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arzajac
1077 posts
Jun 13, 2013
5:28 AM
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Reed work: If you click on my profile and go to my website, you will find affordable tools to do advanced reed work. You don't need anything elaborate as far as tools are concerned. You are shaping the reed by applying focused pressure. If you consider embossing reed work, you don't need high-tech either.
Custom combs: Making a drawing is easy. What's expensive is making prototypes and tweaking them. If you want to do this using CNC, It's cheaper/faster to get your own mill.
I should be getting my CNC mill any day now. I will be offering the service of producing one-off custom combs at my regular price. So if you want to make your own design, you don't have to pay a fortune in machine-shop costs (typically $100/hour and the first comb takes them an hour, plus materials, plus shipping) Just send me your drawing and I will send you your comb. Tweak it, rinse, repeat...
As far as tweaking combs, they need to be flat sanded so you will need fine sandpaper and a flat surface. A Dremel is very useful if you want to try elaborate carvings/modifications. A drill press to put the screw holes in the correct place is also needed.
Drilling reed plates. A drill press. A have two. I got tired of changing bits and keep one with a 1/16 bit at all times. I use that bit the most. For reed plates, I will drill a Marine Band straight through (I mean perfectly straight) using the draw side nail holes as pilot holes. The 1/16th hole can be tapped for an M2 screw as-is, without needing further drilling. So you need an M2 tap and mineral oil to lubricate.
For the clearance hole on the other plate, I just go big and use a 1/8 inch bit. That's about as big a hole I can make without the head of the screw fitting through and it allows a lot of clearance. You can protrude or recess your comb to your preference that way. I use the 1/8 bit for the comb holes, too.
If you can cut the bit so that it can sit way up in the collar and only stick out about 10-15 mm, you will find the cuts a lot more controllable. Also, you should optimise the drill speed to suit cutting into brass. Change your bits before they need to be changed. A bit is cheaper than a reedplate, or the time you will waste if you use a dull bit.
Making coverplates: Cutting the pattern is not the problem - folding it is. It is possible to CNC carve coverplates out of wood. Although wooden coverplates are stunning to look at, apparently they play very poorly.
Comb engraving: CNC mill.
Custom screws: I would consider a manufacturer in China. I can't think of any company off hand, but I have come across companies that offer a wide range of machine screws who advertise that they can make any screw you need if it's not already listed in their inventory.
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Last Edited by arzajac on Jun 13, 2013 8:37 AM
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smwoerner
188 posts
Jun 13, 2013
9:45 AM
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I can tell you from a life time of wrenching, building, tinkering, and other such pursuits that the tool you really need is the one you don’t have or can’t find. However, what’s really cool is when you realize that the odd tool you can’t remember why you bought is the perfect fit for the thing you didn’t know you need a tool for.
The basic tools you need for any of this kind of stuff will really depend on your creativity and comfort level with the tools. At bare minimum you’ll need a couple of good quality and versatile power tools. Something like a nice Proxxon rotary too with a lot of different grinding, sanding, cutting and drill bits and a drill press stand will get you a long way. A good jig saw with some creativity can handle most of the cutting tasks. It might be nice to have a good chop saw as well.
You’ll also need few high quality screwdrivers, pliers, taps and maybe some dies, hammers, punches, vices, clams (lots of clamps), measuring and angle thingies, scraping thingies, wedge thingies, and other odd thingies I’ve never thought of.
You’ll also need lots of random scrap material: wood, sheet steel, lexxan, aluminum, brass dowels, wood dowels, and other stuff.
Then there is tape, glue, polishes, etc.
Mostly though, time, experience, a willingness to make a lot of mistakes, and the ability to acknowledge your failures and learn from your mistakes. I started tinkering when I first took apart my crib; I started playing harp when I turned 45. That’s why I’ll probably always be a better harp tech than harp player…
Last Edited by smwoerner on Jun 13, 2013 9:46 AM
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Kingley
2751 posts
Jun 13, 2013
10:06 AM
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Reed work - Some basic inexpensive tools will get you going on customising harps. My current tool kit consists of a Swiss Army knife (Spartan model), two screwdrivers, a file, a piece of paper, an old socket , one of Arzajac's reed wrenches and a paper clip. I use either my phone or my laptop as a chromatic tuner. A magnifying glass is also very useful. Don't buy into the hype of needing expensive kit to work on stuff. Joe Spiers could transform your stock harp into a great playing harp with just a toothpick!
Custom combs - Well you could cut them by hand (very hard work I would imagine). Other than that some kind of CNC I guess. Maybe you can find some local machinist who would do very small batches (or one off) for you in return for some work or maybe even some harp lessons.
Drilling reed plates - An M2 tap, 2mm drill bit (for the cover plates and blow reed plates, 1.7mm drill bit for draw reed plates, a drill, a bench to work on and some kind of vice to hold things as you work on them. Some M2x10mm screws and nuts. Use nuts and bolts on the cover plates and use the M2 screws on the drilled/tapped reed plates.
Making covers - Crikey! I imagine that would be very hard to do without some kind of moulds and a press of some sort.
Comb engraving - A dremel.
Custom screws - Are you insane??? Just buy them.
Last Edited by Kingley on Jun 13, 2013 10:07 AM
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Greg Heumann
2206 posts
Jun 13, 2013
10:24 AM
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You guys have it easy.
I made a list of the tools I use to make a wood mic and grill. It numbers over 100 items. ---------- *************************************************** /Greg
BlowsMeAway Productions See my Customer Mics album on Facebook BlueState - my band Bluestate on iTunes
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nacoran
6856 posts
Jun 13, 2013
10:49 AM
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Arzajac, a CNC! Ooooo, I have just the crazy comb I want to try. It's based loosely on an old Magnus design. It looks amazing, but plays lousy, but I have a solution! Unfortunately, it may need custom plates- I might be able to work around that.
Custom screws- well, I need a very specific screw! It's not a standard screw. It's not a standard post screw. It's a nub head post screw with a flat shoulder (and like all post screws, it needs a male and a female!) I also have use of 22mmx2mm screws, lol. I also want to 'invent' a screw to mimic a certain kind of rivet. Old Magnus harps are held together by a neat looking hollow rivet. You can see right through the harp. It would be great for a lanyard or just to look cool, but rivets are no good for something you have to take apart. (Actually, now that I think about it, I have a solution for it!) I also have one more idea for high end custom screws. I've decided that I can play harp well enough to entertain myself, but my ear isn't quite good enough for custom tuning things, so I'm focusing on creating new harp bling. I've got an idea for a harp holder, some things to fancy up your harp, and some other cool accessories. I really don't want to make them, just invent them as a hobby and let other people make them, but I've found that it's really hard to find off the shelf stuff for inventing. :)
Arzajac, okay, for CNC, what software do we need to draw our pics in? I was thinking this comb was going to be a monster project.
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arzajac
1079 posts
Jun 13, 2013
11:10 AM
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Hi Nate.
I'll have details in a couple of weeks. I have an idea of the process and the cost, but it's a bit early still.
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