tookatooka
18 posts
Oct 21, 2008
1:42 PM
|
I've been trying to work out how to get an extremely high tolerance reed to reedplate gap. I'm not talking about the arced reedgap, I'm talking about the gap along the length of the reed which just sits above the reedplate gap. It's the gap you see around the reed when holding it up to the light.
To my mind, if this was absolutely minimal then the harp would be ultra airtight and I wonder how this could possibly improve the harps performance/or not.
It would be near impossible to get such high tolerances during the reed and reedplate manufacturing stage but it occurred to me that if the reed assembly was plated up by a few thous in a plating bath, this could be achieved.
Just a thought. Any engineering types out there with electroplating facilities? Someone who works in a printed circuit manufacturing plant could do this quite easily and plate the reedplate and reeds with a few microns of copper or preferrably gold.
Anyone care to discuss?
Last Edited by on Oct 21, 2008 1:43 PM
|
phil
10 posts
Oct 21, 2008
2:54 PM
|
any reduction in gap/tolerance in this area would improve response, i believe.
embossing does the same thing, dosn't it?
|
MrVerylongusername
13 posts
Oct 21, 2008
4:21 PM
|
Absolutely - brass is soft and workable, no need for high tech electro-plating, just rub a penny gently along the slot and it pushes the edges in fractionally. It is actually quite remarkable how little pressure is needed. Keep plinking the reed to make sure you've not overdone it and to clear any little burrs. I know Chris Michelak has done a youtube video on this and I think Dave Payne has too.
|
Aussiesucker
41 posts
Oct 21, 2008
6:06 PM
|
My two pennies worth would suggest the overall air tightness of the harp is more influenced by not having any gaps between the reedplate & comb plus a tight fit ie no gap between reedplate, comb & coverplates along the front of the harp. Gapping of the reed should improve response or slow it down but not influence overall air tightness.
|
tookatooka
20 posts
Oct 22, 2008
1:43 PM
|
Guess you are all right but I think it's something I may try if I can get to a plating shop. Embossing is OK but you only emboss the top surface of the slot. If you were able to plate up the whole inside surface of the slot, the overall reed movement within the reed slot would be tighter.
Just chewing this one over.
As far as airtightness is concerned, don't forget when you draw on hole 2 you will get leakage through the blow 2 reed so the tighter the tolerance the better. I think?
|
Luke Juke
25 posts
Oct 23, 2008
12:44 AM
|
I think you're right about that tookatooka. If you do give it a go then be sure to posta thread on it
Last Edited by on Oct 23, 2008 12:45 AM
|
oldwailer
274 posts
Oct 23, 2008
11:17 AM
|
Be sure to remove the reeds when you have the plate chromed--then replace them. I think plating both the plate and reed would probably not work. . .
|
