clarksdale
40 posts
Feb 09, 2010
1:14 AM
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I'm about to give it my go at customizing a couple Marine Band harps. I'm gonna ditch the nails.
Was wondering where everybody on here stands on Tapping the ReedPlates Vs. Using Screws and Bolts.
I've done the CoverPlates before but never attempted the ReedPlates yet.
So to Tap or not to Tap? Advantages disadvantages?
I'm hoping i can get away with not tapping but if you guys think it really will be more airtight i'll consider tapping.
Whadaya think?
Approciate it in advance!
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$Daddy Rich$
"The Blues is Ok!"
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Bluefinger
56 posts
Feb 09, 2010
1:31 AM
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IMHO the biggest advantage of replacing the nails with screws is serviceability. I do not do the mod immediately but I will do so the first time I need to remove the plates. Of course you can do it right away if you think that working on harps is fun (which is totally understandable). IMHO the airtightness between the comb and plates is ok, especially after a bit of dirt and spit has gotten into the last remaining gaps. That green goo is quite a good sealer :o)
I think the reed setup and tolerances are a bigger cause for air leaks.
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If it ain't broke you just haven't fixed it enough ...
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Pimpinella
74 posts
Feb 09, 2010
1:47 AM
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Tap. With bolts and nuts you have much more tolerances and you don't want none. Then you need not only a screwdriver, but also a wrench to tighten the nuts and bolts properly (it's ok for cover plates to do it without a wrench, you want a well defined force for tightening the plate screws though. Finally those small nuts are expensive and they always get lost...
There are some very nice workshops online about how to get rid of nails in favor of screws. There's a lot you can do wrong. When i first replaced nails with screws i referred to this workshop and had success on the first try:
http://www.harponline.de/index.php?page=ws_dia/ws20_dia/ws20_dia&lang_id=en_GB
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Tryharp
262 posts
Feb 09, 2010
1:49 AM
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Hi Clarksdale,
I like to tap the reedplates, its really very easy, as the brass is so soft. I just epoxied a little tap to suit into an old screwdriver handle, and it works a treat. Make sure you get the right size drill for the pilot hole for the tap. I think its a neater job and you dont have to fiddle around getting little nuts on and off bolts when you strip the harp down. A draw back is that it is easy to strip the new thread if you tighten it too much, but you shouldnt be tightening them up that much anyway.
Tryharp
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Rikus
12 posts
Feb 09, 2010
4:27 AM
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I decided against tapping the reedplates as my local Hardware store didn’t have stock of the 2mm taps and I was impatient…
The only trouble I ran into was that the 2mm nut was slightly too big to fit in between the reeds, but that was nothing that a touch to the bench grinder couldn’t fix. I don’t really have a problem tightening them at all. After sanding everything flat I didn’t really need to tighten them too much for it to seal nicely.
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Kingley
823 posts
Feb 09, 2010
4:34 AM
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I would never recommend using nuts and bolts on reedplates. They can bend the plates if over tightened, they also have a tendency to work loose over time.
Using tapped screws is a far superior method.
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Shredder
145 posts
Feb 09, 2010
6:31 PM
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http://www.microfasteners.com/index.cfm
I got my taps,drills and brass screws here. Ordered on line and 4 days later I had a life time supply.
I got the 1-72 x3/8"long round head brass screws like HarpWrench suggested.
Mike
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jonsparrow
2190 posts
Feb 09, 2010
6:45 PM
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i want to tap mine but i dont have a tap. when i do get one best believe all my marine bands will be tapped. right now there just nut an bolt.
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clarksdale
41 posts
Feb 09, 2010
7:18 PM
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Thanks very much for the feedback, i'll look into tapping for sure. I've got some more questions but i'll need to start another thread soon for them as they wouldn't fit in this one.
Peace,
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$Daddy Rich$
"The Blues is Ok!"
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