harmonicanick
166 posts
Mar 04, 2009
1:26 AM
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I am thinking of buying one of these.
Has anyone got any tips about using these for cleaning harps.
Like do you immerse the whole harp in the solution in the tank?
Can you use water?
How long for?
Advice would be appreciated
'Information is not knowledge
Knowledge is not truth
Truth is not wisdom'.......Frank Zappa
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KingoBad
27 posts
Mar 04, 2009
5:40 AM
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There is great info here:
http://www.harmonicasessions.com/dec08/Pollard.html
I just use hot water and a splash of Listerine in my sonic cleaner to help sanitize everything. I probably need to find an alternative as it is less minty and more medicinal tasting after i rinse them out. I also have plastic and metal combs on my harps so water is not an issue with any wood. It is particularly fun to watch the clouds of gunk float away from your harp when you turn the sonic cleaner on.
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Buddha
88 posts
Mar 04, 2009
5:47 AM
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I use 70/30 water to vinegar with a drop of dish soap.
I run them for 3 minutes sometimes 9 or 12 if I'm doing a large batch.
I take them apart and place the individual parts in the basket. I put the screws in a small pyrex dish along with the other stuff. If I'm working on a special 20 that comes in used, I just toss the whole thing in there for a couple of cycles before I work on it. Then I take it apart and dry it off and start my work.
Unless you're building harps, you really don't need one. I don't clean my personal harps.
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harmonicanick
167 posts
Mar 04, 2009
7:59 AM
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thanks
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genesis
14 posts
Mar 09, 2009
3:00 AM
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You can get relatively cheap ones from harbor freight.
I opted for a Branson which is awesome. Got it cheap from a tattoo shop that was closing.I would be lost without it. Sometimes I get harps sent to me that really make me want to throw up. Ive had harps sent that were supposedly in need of tuning but were only a few cents flat after being cleaned. Some were 20 cents or more flat from the dried gunk and corrosion on the reeds prior to cleaning. Ultrasonics wont disinfect but will do an awesome job of getting them clean. I disinfect with Sterisol after then rinse with water. You can get it for $5 at music stores and it will last a long time. Its used for wind instrument mouthpieces.
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Buddha
103 posts
Mar 09, 2009
6:34 AM
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The one from Harbor Freight isn't great. I had that one for a day before I returned it. I ended up calling my mother who found a few of them at the U of MN Laboratory surplus yard. The industrial grade cleaners work so much better.
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