Wind Savers galore
Hello Winslow,
For the June 2010 issue of Harmonica Sessions, you wrote an excellent article on windsavers (valves). You listed the three popular types of the day:
* Mylar valves with one or two layers combines a pliable lower layer and a stiffer, shorter upper layer. This is standard on most modern harmonicas.
* Micropore valves with Mylar stiffeners use 3M Micropore surgical tape as the base layer. Some players feel that the extreme pliability and moisture wicking properties of Micropore make it a better valve base than Mylar. (I believe still available by Mrs.Bill Romel?)
* Dimpled Mylar is now used by Seydel, as shown in Figure 4. The dimpled lower layer is intended to reduce sticking by preventing full contact between the valve and the reedplate while allowing enough contact to seal against air leakage.
Recently you posted a response to a question regarding availability of new valves. Since your 2010 article, have you discovered any new innovative materials?
Thanx,
Kinya
Thanx Winslow
I received my order from Betty Romel last Friday and installed them on a CBH 2012 that I am bringing back to life. Initially, my first impressions were that the Romel valves were flimsy--easily curling upward, and slapping about when playing. I need to spend more time with the Romel solution before giving it a thumbs up/down. Next in line will be the new Seydel valve, possibly followed by PT or Vern's valves ...
Kinya
Good info. Any new news or ideas on valve material? I have found a leather crafter here in Texas that sends me pieces of cow leather that have been planed thin but are still stiff enough to make excellent reeds.
Leather was once use for harmonica valves and is still sometimes used on accordions.
Leather does tend to flop, which is why a thin stiffener wire is often fastened as a second layer.
I've had good results with Danny G's valves and have even made my own with thin mylar with micropore tape on the side that goes against the reedplate. But you have to find thin enough mylar (about 3 mils, or 0.76mm), and cutting it accurately is tricky.
Hi, Kinya.
Two other do-it-yourself possibilities that I also mentioned in the article:
Ultrasuede is a synthetic suede used by PT Gazell on his half-valved diatonics. It comes in various thicknesses and is pliable enough to seal a slot and resistant to moisture and stickiness. However, it's a bit floppy, and Vern Smith has developed a compressed Ultrasuede that is a bit stiffer than the untreated variety.
Some players have used strips cut from Teflon baking sheets. The trick is to find it thin enough - most commercially sold baking sheets are too thick and rigid. Again, Betty Romel may have some available.
But you can also get pre-made single layer valves from DannyG of newharmonica,com (DannyG@NewHarmonica.com). These are available in one long length that you cut to size. Danny sells them in various stiffnesses. Contact him for more details.