mankycodpiece
44 posts
Dec 30, 2009
8:35 AM
|
my Bb special 20 has clogged up,so i thought i'd give it the Jason Ricci/Joe Spiers treatment with toothpaste beig the only difference.
there is black stain on the reed plates where it sat on the comb that i just cannot shift.
what is it,and how do i shift it.
thanks.
|
toddlgreene
307 posts
Dec 30, 2009
8:40 AM
|
It's funk/discoloration/oxidation from the moisture. Barkeeper's Friend is what I use, moistened on a toothbrush, but I'm not sure of it's availability in the UK. Some folks on here use ultrasonic or denture cleaners;not sure if that works as I've never tried it.
EDIT:there are a few threads on here about cleaning. Lots of folks, however, only clean the combs and coverplates. I think it's equally important to clean the reedplates. You're breathing in whatever's on them, and all that moisture can breed some gnarly stuff.
----------
~Todd L. Greene, Devout Pedestrian
"listen to what you like for inspiration, but find your own voice"
crescentcityharmonicaclub@gmail.com
Last Edited by on Dec 30, 2009 8:48 AM
|
mickil
791 posts
Dec 30, 2009
8:51 AM
|
Manky,
I'm not sure, but if you do clean it, another stain will replace it, at least that's what my meagre knowledge of metallurgy tells me.
Fortunately, it's different with the covers, which 'heal' themselves if scratched: the chromium content in stainless steel forms a protective layer that resists corrosion. Anyway, that's what I read about the subject on Wikipedia.
I don't worry about the reed plates looking naff; they are mostly hidden and get replaced anyway. However, I do replace those horrid screws with MB Dlx screws. Sp20 cover screws are brass plated stainless steel - I think - which is why they go almost black as soon as you look at them. I think those other screws are brass, so they don't fade as much.
I'm getting a bit anal here! We are a fussy lot!
----------
YouTube SlimHarpMick a.k.a. HarmonicaMick
|
MrVerylongusername
735 posts
Dec 30, 2009
8:56 AM
|
Cillit bang works - it's the British version of Purple Kaboom.
Citric acid (brewers suppliers and pharmacists) works. I reckon a good dunking in a sugar free cola would work too (drop a penny in coke overnight and see for yourself!)
I think you can get barkeepers friend from Lakeland (the cookware shop) too, but I'm not 100%.
Denture cleaners will discolour phosphor bronze plates, but it removes the gunk.
Whatever you do, try to avoid ammonia based cleaners (brasso etc...) as this reacts with the brass, it'll remove the oxidation, but it will weaken the reeds.
Personally I don't really bother with cleaning anything other than crud on the covers and around the holes.
|
mankycodpiece
45 posts
Dec 30, 2009
9:04 AM
|
thank lads.
i scrube off with toothpaste and went over and got some steradent tablets tabletsand soaked them in that for 15 minutes.
asemmbled and it does play a lot brighter.
i,ve to do the low f too,so i'll get some of the cillit bang tomorrow.
i haven't cleaned any of the since i've had them so,they must all be just about due.
once again,thanks for your help.
|
barbequebob
270 posts
Dec 30, 2009
10:01 AM
|
Most of that stuff is basically dried up saliva and layers of dead skin and if you've been playing with a lot of breath force all the time, it makes this probelm 100 times worse. When this dries on the reeds themselves, it will also alter the pitch, usually in a very negative way.
----------
Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
|
harpinonfire
26 posts
Dec 31, 2009
2:51 PM
|
Iwatched the Jason Youtube piece on cleaning using purple kaboom and thought that would be a good idea. I happened to be at Target a few minutes ago and so I looked in the house cleaning section and sure enough the had two bottles of kaboom both were purple which one to get? One had oxyclean the other had bleach in it. So I turned it over and read directions. Which says don't use on brass or chrome coverd metal as it will cause piting also the warning about breathing harmful vapors. So the kaboom still sits on the shelf at Target. I'll probably just use Isopropyl 91% alchol, peroxide or I think someone said they used toothpaste. Cheers and have a prosperous New Year everyone.
|
