Marine Band 101
Hi, Kinya. I was just curious to hear if you had any updates as to when Marine Band 101 will air. I (along with others, I'm sure) am very excited to watch the upcoming videos. I have a set of 7 old Marine Bands (when I say old, I only mean before they started sealing the combs) that I am just about ready to start working on. I've already made many personal choices through experimentation on the "structural" aspect of this project. For example: I prefer 2-56 screws as opposed to 0-80 (I broke three 0-80's on my first project, and I think that the 2-56 are still small enough to look classy.) Unfortunately, I haven't conducted any experiments comparing mineral oil to Zinsser shellac, all I really know is that the oil will soak into the wood and the shellac will coat the outside. I would like to hear your, and everyone else's, opinion and advice on the topic. Once I get started, I would like to keep my set consistent, if that makes sense. Any knowledge you could share would be great to hear, thank you.
P.S. I'm also very excited to watch the videos on reed profiling, gapping, symbiosis, and embossing with the UST. These are all things I would love to learn more about, and that portion of my project of overhauling my set will wait until I do.
Hi Lee,
Good to hear from you.
David Barrett and I will be in the workshop studio at the end of the month to shoot many new segments of the upcoming Harp Tech series. This will include:
* demonstrating the symbiotic relationship between the blow and draw reeds within the same chamber
* reed gapping (a.k.a. offsetting) profiling
* reed replacement
* reed plate sizing (embossing)
* reed plate flattening
* wood comb customizing: removing sharp tines, proper sanding processes, and finishing strategies
* cover plate modifications
In the meantime if you would like to experiment, I would "not" recommend using oil on your pear wood combs, but rather choose between the Zinsser spray Shellac or Varathane Crystal Clear Polyurethane (#200081 water base spray gloss finish).
My personal preference is the Varathane product, because it can hold up to constant exposure of the alcohol based sanitizers that I use after every performance. The Shellac will break down with alcohol cleaning products.
Your Harpsmith,
Kinya
Kinya: I'm interested in wether the water based Varathane smells. As I remember the oil based product smelled for quite some time and tasted funny. But no doubt the alcohol based sanitizer would kill the shellac over time. The reason Richard liked the shellac is that it dries fast and has a minimum amount of smell. However I suspect he uses polyurethane on his combs and lets them cure for quite some time. I'll ask him.
Jon
Hi Jon,
Remember that set of Pakawood HARPSMITH Marine Bands, with Hering cover plates that I built for you all those years ago? The finish I used was the Varathane product (same sealant Varathane recommends for Toys). After this stuff cures, there will be no scent issue. Check it out!
~Kinya
I ordered a can and will give it a try. I've been around you for a long time I don't know why I've never picked up on this. It's sure going to be a lot easier than Zinnser Amber Shellac. You learn something new everyday.
Jon Harl
5731 Meridian Ave.
San Jose, CA 95118
Cell: 408/531.5755
www.customseydels.com
I came across this thread and another on the same topic from 2011 while search for information about replacement screws. I am very interested in seeing the Marine Band 101A videos, but can't locate them. Have they been completed and posted yet and, if so, where are they within the site?
Thank you for your work on this interesting topic!
Hello Fish Lips,
David and I decided to offer Marine Band 101, "How to customize the Hohner Marine Band 1896 Harmonica" as one of the hands-on workshops for the 20th Annual Harmonica Masterclass Workshop in April 2014, located in San Jose, CA USA.
Filming of this Harp Tech has been delayed as a result.
Your Harpsmith, Kinya
Thanks, Kinya. I'm sure it will be an excellent session and I will look forward to seeing the clips when they become available.
Leo: I would use the 2-56 for the cover plates and 1-72 for the reed plates. That's what I use currently. As for sealing the comb... Zinsser Amber Shellac is what Richard Sleigh recommended.