SuperBee
6069 posts
Jul 17, 2019
6:31 PM
|
I made a tentative start to a restoration job last night.
Hicksville era Marine Band, ‘almost’ new.
There is hardly any water stain on the reedplates or reeds, no staining at all on the comb, no rust. No chipped lacquer on the tines. Box is in good shape and instruction leaflet present and in good shape.
I bought this some time ago as a reminder of the first harp I ever owned, around 1981 or 2.
I found it to be quite unplayable, mainly because it’s been stored with mothballs and the comb has absorbed the stink.
I’d like it to be a player’s harp. Is there any hope for the comb? Will it air out eventually? If not, would I be able to seal the stink in if I waxed or lacquered it.
The comb as noted is original and clean, flat and I’d like to use it if possible. If not, I’m not too fussed I suppose, I’ll use something else.
|
jbone
2970 posts
Jul 17, 2019
7:57 PM
|
Some harps I've gotten have a kind of perfume in them for some reason. Possibly where they were stored as they are old models usually. It's happened a couple of times. Never moth balls BUT I have found that putting baking soda in the case with the harp can take the odor away. Sometimes I've made a paste of it with some water and smeared it in the case. I had a Hohner Chromonica II I did this with and it has no or any more. Most of the odor seemed to be in the case and not the harp. I have also had diatonics that I drizzled baking soda/water into the comb, let sit for a few days, and warm water rinsed. It worked.
Would it be worth taking yours apart and putting a baking soda paste on it for a few days to see if it would take the moth ball odor away?
----------
Music and travel destroy prejudice.
Reverbnation
Facebook
Last Edited by jbone on Aug 03, 2019 8:06 PM
|
SuperBee
6070 posts
Jul 17, 2019
9:14 PM
|
Maybe worth a shot, Jbone. Thanks for the thought.
I’ve used baking soda to get the smell out of a new leather harp case before. It took a while but I did get the stink out eventually.
I have a chromatic, prewar 270, which had been fumigated with frankincense. Maybe not fumigated but the case had absorbed the odour of frankincense and the harp was stinky too. I cleaned the harp and fitted new comb and now it’s fine but I can’t use the case. I’ll definitely try the baking soda in the case for that one.
|
SuperBee
6071 posts
Jul 17, 2019
9:17 PM
|
Now you mention it, I wonder if it is mothballs. It actually smells like toilet air freshener or those discs which used to be used in public urinals. Maybe it’s been sprayed with Glen 20 or such.
|
Prento
57 posts
Jul 17, 2019
9:34 PM
|
Try metho
|
Kingley
4120 posts
Jul 17, 2019
10:34 PM
|
In my experience when harp combs are that bad, they're usually beyond saving. I've found that sooner or later the smell/taste usually comes back no matter what's done to remove/mask it. Think I'd be saving myself a lot of grief and just putting in a replacement/aftermarket comb. OK it won't be original, but it'll be a vastly more playable harp. Unless you're planning on selling it on as a restoration job, then that would seem to be the more sensible way forward to me.
|
dchurch
267 posts
Jul 18, 2019
12:01 AM
|
I have used shellac in similar smelly comb situations although not as intense as your description. I have also used shellac to eliminate tobacco and perfume odors in antique furniture.
I like the baking soda idea too. I’m sure it would help. I don’t know if direct contact would cause problems with subsequent finishes but I would avoid it. I’d add a ½ cup of baking soda in a jar and cover the baking soda with a layer of uncooked rice, drop in the comb then put a lid on it. I think 4 to 5 days of being sealed in the jar would help neutralize the odor plus remove moisture from the wood.
I’m guessing you also want to seal the comb so if there is any remaining odor I’d seal with shellac. You can also topcoat shellac with lacquer for a slightly more moisture proof finish.
Any shellac would work but this Zinsser product is marketed for killing odors:
ABOUT CLEAR BIN® SEALER
To permanently block odors without changing a surface’s appearance, choose Rust-Oleum® Zinsser® CLEAR B-I-N® Sealer. This de-waxed shellac solution eliminates the toughest odors—food, pet urine, cigarette smoke and more—and won’t yellow with age.
• De-waxed shellac-base sealer
• For interior use
• Ultimate odor blocker
• Seals odors from food, mold and mildew, pet urine, fire and smoke damage, and cigars and cigarettes
• Clear formula preserves original surface appearance
• Sticks to all interior surfaces without sanding
• Ultra fast dry – topcoat in 45 minutes
FOR BEST RESULTS
Use indoors. Works with any top coat.
Sorry about stipulating “uncooked” rice ;P
----------
It's about time I got around to this.
|
John M G
316 posts
Jul 18, 2019
12:30 AM
|
A Plus 1 on Zinsser products.
|
SuperBee
6073 posts
Jul 18, 2019
3:20 AM
|
My idea when I bought it was to have a replica of the ‘first harp’, and as such I didn’t care much about playing it. Since then I’ve realised i find it mildly annoying to have an unplayable harp sitting around, especially one which is essentially new.
I would like to keep it fairly unmodified though, as in original parts, nailed, in keeping with the spirit of nostalgia with which I purchased it. I don’t believe I have another original comb in good condition. If I did, I’d be happy enough to use it. It’s not a big deal just whimsical. If it gets too hard, pragmatism will take over.
|
SuperBee
6074 posts
Jul 18, 2019
3:24 AM
|
Good advice I think, dchurch.
I’ll try the jar idea.
Not sure if I can easily obtain the zinsser product here, but as Yuri Gargarin has inspired me, I’ll have a good look.
|
John M G
317 posts
Jul 18, 2019
5:18 AM
|
Hi SuperBee
Bunnings have Zinsser products here in Oz and they have the B I N sealer
Here's a link to the Bunnings page, https://www.bunnings.com.au/zinsser-470ml-b-i-n-primer-sealer-stain-killer_p1560189
|
SuperBee
6075 posts
Jul 18, 2019
5:25 AM
|
Thank you, John! I appreciate you.
|
SuperBee
6079 posts
Jul 21, 2019
4:19 PM
|
I just now was putting the comb into a jar as suggested by dchurch with the soda and I thought about charcoal/activated carbon as used in fish tank filters, shoe inserts, and sometimes advocated to remove odour from refrigerators, and vacuum flasks.
I don’t have any wood-burner here. I probably do have some carbon for an aquarium filter though. I think I will try that too.
|
ROBERT TEMPLE II
74 posts
Jul 22, 2019
3:57 PM
|
I have used activated charcoal this year to remove odors/tastes from some harps sent to me from out of the country. i suggest about a week in an airtight container. I have no idea how long the mothball smell would last or react to the charcoal treatment. My first harp had that smell, too. It was an FR. Hotz "The American Ace." It was in my great uncle's old pullman trunk. I don't regret having found that harp nor having a few toxic hits off of it but I wouldn't want that sort of hit now. Try the charcoal. Good luck !!!
|
SuperBee
6083 posts
Jul 23, 2019
3:26 AM
|
I’ve had it in a jar with bicarb soda for 2 days. I checked it tonight and I do believe it’s much less smelly. I’ll leave it until the weekend and see how it is, and if needed I’ll try the charcoal after that.
|
SuperBee
6097 posts
Aug 03, 2019
4:24 PM
|
2 weeks in the jar, and I can’t detect any perfume remaining in the comb.
I’ve taken it out and will leave it for another week before reassessing.
Meanwhile, I’ve put the reedplates into the jar, even though I expect I can scrub the stink off them, one way or another
|
SuperBee
6118 posts
Aug 14, 2019
5:37 PM
|
August 15; I took all the parts out of the jar last night. I can’t detect any residual odour of Glen 20 or whatever it was.
So I’ll get on with the restoration.
|
nacoran
10159 posts
Aug 15, 2019
4:09 PM
|
I'm in the middle of making a harmonica shelf. I made the mistake of getting oiled masonite for the shelves instead of unoiled. My whole apartment smells like linseed. Hopefully that should fade. (Letting them air out for now.)
----------
Nate
Facebook
Thread Organizer (A list of all sorts of useful threads)
First Post- May 8, 2009
|
dchurch
269 posts
Aug 15, 2019
8:57 PM
|
Good job SuperBee.
Nacoran, I love the smell of linseed oil. It reminds me of wood shop... maybe add a little orange, cinnamon, or pine scent and you really have something. :)
----------
It's about time I got around to this.
|
SuperBee
6122 posts
Aug 16, 2019
12:53 AM
|
I think I’ve cleared up that chromatic case too.
Now I just need to air-out the leather harp holster, but that one maybe not too bad.
|
nacoran
10161 posts
Aug 16, 2019
1:55 PM
|
dchurch, I don't mind the actual smell, but it triggers headaches and bothers my asthma. It doesn't seem to bother me that way nearly as much as it used to though.
----------
Nate
Facebook
Thread Organizer (A list of all sorts of useful threads)
First Post- May 8, 2009
|
SuperBee
6126 posts
Aug 16, 2019
9:32 PM
|
Linseed aka flaxseed is pretty good food, primarily for the oil content.
Oils ain’t oils though. Raw linseed oil is fine. True ‘boiled’ linseed oil is fine too.
Some linseed oil used for timber finishes is not pure linseed though. It has things added to raw oil to make it behave like boiled linseed without the cost of investment in plant and energy.
This stuff is really common. It could be the additives which are to blame for a bad reaction rather than the smell of linseed as such. I’m pretty sure the linseed oil I use on my tool handles is this type.
Last Edited by SuperBee on Aug 16, 2019 9:36 PM
|
SuperBee
6266 posts
Nov 09, 2019
4:13 AM
|
I was a bit optimistic that i'd eliminated the smell. i gave the harp another spell in the jar and while the odour is still detectable it is greatly diminished. this could be ongoing for a while yet.
The harp could use a bit more work, i can see light between the comb and blow plate in chambers 1 and 2 but ive done good reed work on it so its very playable in that area. i think the reed plate is bowed, front to back. I'll get back to it sometime but its actually the top end reeds could use a little more attention now.
The other big concern is keeping the rust at bay. not quite sure how to do that.
|
jbone
3049 posts
Nov 10, 2019
6:47 AM
|
The Chromonica II I was given some years ago, that had the perfume odor, it is still 98% odor free. Baking soda was key. I wonder if lemon juice or vinegar would finish the job for you Bee?
----------
Music and travel destroy prejudice.
Reverbnation
Facebook
|
SuperBee
6276 posts
Nov 10, 2019
2:51 PM
|
I might need a fresh batch of powder. I’m loading the harp box with it too because that thing is reeking, along with the ‘how to play’ leaflet.
I will come back to this one in between other jobs. At least it’s enjoyable to play now.
Something about the gleam of nickel is more appealing than stainless steel.
|
