Tight reed plate screws
I'm having a hard time getting my reed plates off the comb...
There is usually one or two screws that are really tight and I'm afraid I might have stripped my lee Oskar philips screw driver.
Does anyone else have this issue and have any ninja tricks they can share to remove really stubborn screws? I have a powerbender that I'm trying to setup and I have one screw I can't remove.
Well done KFitz! Necessity is the mother of invention--right ;o)
Your Harpsmith, Kinya
Hello. I just got my new Special 20 key of G. and when i tried the 1 draw, there is a metal sound that is not there one the other draws, more like a bell sound or something. seems to come from the reeds. any idea what it can be and if i can fix it?
Hello Ola, thanks for joining in on the forum ...
Q1: the 1 draw, there is a metal sound that is not there one the other draws, more like a bell sound or something. seems to come from the reeds. any idea what it can be and if i can fix it?
A1: Sounds like the long and #1 heavy reed is "knocking" against the bottom cover plate. To isolate the issue, remove the cover plate and draw on the lower notes--is it still making that annoying sound?
How you respond will determine my Rx to you.
Your Harpsmith, Kinya
Hello :) I tried to play it after I removed the cover plates, but the sound is still there on the 1 draw. might it be that the reed is touching the reed plate?
Hi Ola, I share your suspicion.
Remove the reed plate from the comb, then hold that reed plate up to a light source ... can you see an even sliver of light bordering the tip and sides of the reed?
If you can see it is off axis, carefully realign with a reed wrench, or use a.002" feeler guage wedged against the side of the reed and reed slot--then plink the reed a few times to make certain the reed has cleared the reed plate slot. Let us know ...
Your Harpsmith, Kinya
Hey. I took of the reed plate and pushed the reed aliitle to the side, and the sound disappeared. but now i got a new sound, from the reed knocking on my cover plate. haha.
Think i fixed it by bending the edges of the cover plates alittle and loosening the nuts alittle.Thanks for the help :)
Thats funny Ola, I like your sense of humor.
Another tip is to apply a few layers of 3M Micropore Tape on to the inside of the cover plate (at the point of reed contact). This will buffer (deaden) the metallic tapping noise.
-- yeah the same medical tape the hospitals use to secure IV needles with--ouchie!
Your Harpsmith, Kinya
Since I didn't get an answer I thought I would post a method I found that works really well for me after much trial and error. :)
I simply took my gerber and used the needle nose pliers to grip the screw parallel to the screw head and spun the reedplates and comb around clockwise. This gives you a tremendous amount of leverage and grip to get even the most tight and stripped out screws.
Hope this helps someone!