Blowyourbrassoff
149 posts
Sep 02, 2014
3:47 PM
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Since I'm not making combs as a part of my daily business anymore I'm curious as to what other things the harp community might need. What kind of things do you guys wish you had? Stage gear? Stuff for your recording studio? Harmonica display cases? I'm curious to know, so if you have any suggestions let me know. I've really gotten back into woodworking and would like to incorporate that into what I do. Email Me Your Suggestions
Just looking for something new to do that's harmonica related.
Chris
Blowyourbrassoff.com
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PropMan
19 posts
Sep 02, 2014
10:08 PM
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I was really impressed and interested in the Hohner chromatic mouthpiece you showed us a while back. I'd buy a couple of 260s and a couple of 270s if you ever decide to make them.
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Frank
5213 posts
Sep 04, 2014
4:00 AM
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I know this is a long shot but making...REEDS...would be something that would probably sell pretty good :)
Last Edited by Frank on Sep 04, 2014 5:55 AM
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the_happy_honker
182 posts
Sep 04, 2014
6:23 AM
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How 'bout cover plates? I really like the rosewood covers on my Pure Harp for acoustic playing and have been toying with the idea of making some of my own. So far, though, common sense (I'm a klutz) and laziness have prevented me from doing so.
Just about any hardwood, bone or horn will do the job and extreme flatness is not necessary.
And then we could argue about the acoustical minutiae of African ebony vs. cocobolo or some such. Just what this forum needs!
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arzajac
1460 posts
Sep 04, 2014
7:14 AM
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Not related to woodworking, but stainless steel cover plates that could fit just about any model would be great.
Custom sizes are another suggestion. Like a stainless steel cover plate that could fit a custom-made 13-hole Marine Band (Low octave on the bottom three holes and the next ten holes like a regular harp - Brendan Power has some self-made Powerbenders like this. He uses MB364 covers.)
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Custom overblow harps. Harmonica service and repair.
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nacoran
7980 posts
Sep 04, 2014
9:35 AM
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Just spitballing, but how about a mic stand with the tube cut in two and put back together with a slot running up the middle to hold harps? (The harps would stack vertically at about a 45 degree angle)
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Nate
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Diggsblues
1526 posts
Sep 04, 2014
10:13 AM
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Reeds with 00-80 screws. I think the brass is soft enough
to self tap. Screws maybe to.
Maybe one of those things that removes reeds to.
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Last Edited by Diggsblues on Sep 04, 2014 10:15 AM
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Buzadero
1216 posts
Sep 04, 2014
10:17 AM
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I'll second the stainless cover plate suggestion. Or, monel or titanium.
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~Buzadero
Underwater Janitor, Patriot
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Blowyourbrassoff
150 posts
Sep 05, 2014
1:10 PM
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Lot of good suggestions. I'll try and address them here.
Making coverplates, metal ones, requires a pretty substantial press and very expensive dies. I'm afraid that's one that I won't be tackling. I've done some experiments and it's really just not feasible in my home shop. I wish it were, but sadly it requires much larger and more powerful equipment than I have.
The mic stand with slots, very interesting idea, but I'm not sure that the tube would resist the clamping force when you wanted to lock it in place again. It would possibly flex and might not stay where you put it, or it might pinch on the harps and you wouldn't be able to get them out. Not saying it's not possible, just saying those are two issues that I could see happening, unless I'm not fully understanding what you're describing.
I've used 0-80 screws a lot in the past for reeds, they work well. I think it would make more sense though for folks to just order up the screws from a supplier like McMaster-Carr rather than buy them from me. You'd get a better deal on them.
Reed making is very cool, but VERY tedious. I've done some for the fun of it in the past and I think you'd starve inside a month trying to make reeds commercially, unless you used a setup like the manufacturers where you're cranking them out by the thousands. Doing them on a small scale like I tried would cause them to cost considerably more than the commercial ones from the major manufacturers.
I did make a little tool a few years ago for removing reeds, it was a steel piece with a section cut out and a tempered screw with a handle running perpendicular to the opening. You just put the plate in and tighten it down and it pushes the rivet out. However here lately I've been using a small automatic centerpunch to remove the reeds and for me it's actually much quicker and easier. Just put the point on the rivet, push down, and it pops loose.
Great ideas though folks, definitely keep 'em coming. If you have any others can email me..
Chris
Blowyourbrassoff.com
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Last Edited by Blowyourbrassoff on Sep 05, 2014 1:11 PM
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Barley Nectar
510 posts
Sep 05, 2014
7:13 PM
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Chris, How bout a leather belt pouch for a bullet. Snaps are a no-no due to scratching mic finish. Use Velcro closures. A finger hole in the bottom so you can push the mic up into your palm will work great. Some nice moccasin style stitching for accent. Think baseball. This would be a great storage/transport protector also. HowmIdoin? ...(;>)...BN
Last Edited by Barley Nectar on Sep 05, 2014 7:14 PM
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Barley Nectar
511 posts
Sep 05, 2014
7:33 PM
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Here's another. Folding harp case stand. 2 pieces of 1/2" EMT conduit shaped like a U. Must have rubber feet. 2 bolts thru that form a folding X. Top can be 1/4" ply fastened on one end w/ a cleat on the other. Two nylon net pockets to one side. One pocket for the mic and one for drink. Or you can use nylon web straps for the top. No pockets though. Functional, light weight and small to transport..BN
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Dragonbreath
23 posts
Sep 06, 2014
2:49 AM
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Some kind of bulletizer that could fit on different size stick mics. Like the different old akai's, little walter mics, sm57 and so on. Like one universal thing you could move from mic to mic. Maybe plastic or metal or wood with some stretchy rubber so you thread it on or maybe open up and close over mic or something.
Last Edited by Dragonbreath on Sep 06, 2014 2:51 AM
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Blowyourbrassoff
151 posts
Sep 11, 2014
8:53 PM
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Those are some good ideas. I've got a design that I think would work well for a stage stand/table that I'm thinking about working up.
The belt pouch for a bullet sounds like a cool idea. That would take some time to work up the patterns for and make one to test. But I'll definitely look into it.
Not sure what a bulletizer is to be honest. Do you have any more information?
I'm going to have to take some time off so at the moment I'm working to clear all my current orders. My car has either blown a head gasket or needs a vale job, but since it's 15 years old and has 250,000+ miles on it I can't justify spending $1270.00 to have the shop do it. So I'll be working on that until I can get it done and back on the road.
Chris
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