Shredder
86 posts
Jan 01, 2010
7:15 PM
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I posted a while back that a S/P20 "D" that was flooded during hurricane IKE really had a great sound and seemed to be louder that my non flooded harps I use, even my guitar and drum player could hear the differance.
Well it finally died when the 4 draw broke near the rivet several months ago, I was heart broken due to the fact it was brought back to life after being submurged in brackish muddy water for a month or more with a little cleaning and grinding the cover plt. screws off"rust worms got to them".
Any way, a newer S/P 20"D" I was gigging with last night broke the 4 blow near the rivet. I disassembled the harps and swapped the reed plates.
What I discovered on the old flooded plates was that cool looking green patina. I plinked a few reeds and found the patina/corrosion had ever so slightly closed up the gap from the reed to the slot. Keep in mind the patina was very fine, almost like a water stain residue and not big chunks.
I done't think this is a pratical way of getting around embossing the reed plates but it worked and didnt effect the preformance of the harp.
Have I stumbled onto a new process of chemical embossing!?
The renewed "D" S/P20 is now back in the 1st line up and the blow plate with the Mojo in it still lives on.
Just thought this might stir up some intrest,
Mike
Last Edited by on Jan 01, 2010 7:36 PM
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jonsparrow
1544 posts
Jan 01, 2010
7:29 PM
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i dont see anything.
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Shredder
87 posts
Jan 01, 2010
7:38 PM
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I hit enter before I made the post
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nacoran
639 posts
Jan 01, 2010
7:59 PM
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That's actually pretty funny. I think there are chemicals they treat copper roofs with to give them that green patina quicker (it can take years to develop it naturally.)
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jonsparrow
1545 posts
Jan 01, 2010
8:08 PM
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chemical embossing huh...
i dont think it could be healthy to breath that in though. microscopic mold or germs could be flying into your lungs.
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Shredder
88 posts
Jan 01, 2010
8:25 PM
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I guess some could come off but I removed the cover plates and soaked the harp in hot soapy"dawn dish washing detergent" water several times changing the old water out for fresh amd scrubbed the harp with a brass brush. Then I pressure washed them in the shower on turbo massage to remove any crud. I didn't think I could get the reed plate screws off cause they were so corroded. Then I poured alcohol thru it to kill any mold or germs left over. I found out tonight the plate screws could be removed, and I didn't find any mud or crud, just the patina.
I actually gigged with this harp several times with no ill effects.
I done't plan on soaking any more harps in the bayou any time soon though.
Nowwwwww maybe a reed plate in a steril salt water bath would be a cool experiment?
Mike
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jonsparrow
1547 posts
Jan 01, 2010
9:09 PM
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"I actually gigged with this harp several times with no ill effects."
keep in mind you could breath in asbestos and have no ill effects but in the long run....
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nacoran
644 posts
Jan 01, 2010
9:32 PM
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Jonsparrow- I think that would depend entirely on if it's patina or algae.
Shredder- Actually, I tried cleaning a harp with baking soda once. I left it on too long and it oxidized and turned green. It was a cheap Piedmont so I didn't even bother trying to fix it. I threw it in the bin with my other busted harps. I think I left it on overnight and that was way too long.
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jonsparrow
1549 posts
Jan 01, 2010
10:10 PM
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i dont even know what patina is.
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Gwythion
46 posts
Jan 02, 2010
3:43 AM
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Are those the ingredients for "Armageddon-Proof" Twinkies, Jon?
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Shredder
89 posts
Jan 02, 2010
9:37 AM
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Those chemicals look bad. I think the only thing my harp was exposed to was sodium "sea salt".
If the harp was exposed to some of the compounds listed , Yeah! I wouldn't even consider using the harp.
I will say this. The point of the post I started is thinking out of the box. Is there another way of closing up the gap to the reed besides
rolling"embossing" the edge of the slot, that we as harp tech's. can do?
Mike
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nacoran
646 posts
Jan 02, 2010
10:56 AM
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Another possibility might be very carefully controlled electroplating.
I think TurboHarps do something with an extra layer of material over the
I suspect the patina is probably weaker than the rest of the metal, so it might be de-burring itself as you play. I'm not sure if patina is good to inhale, but the baking soda or the salt-water probably wouldn't hurt. That said, different reeds are made of different things. Some might be safer to mess with than others. (Any time you scratch up the plates I'd rinse your harp.)
Are there any other reed materials:
Bronze-Phosphor
Brass
Bell Brass
Stainless Steel
Some older harps might have some lead in them.
(I think there was a harp in the 50's that used plastic)
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