Author Topic: Removing one cover plate at a time (Read 642 times)

Ed McCullough · « **on:** September 26, 2024, 10:09:22 AM »

Removing one cover plate at a time allows me to clean the outside valves on one side of a harmonica without endangering the valves and reeds on the other side of the harmonica. I can slap the harmonica down on any surface or debris on my table whereever I am, with the side that is still protected by a cover plate sitting on the table or debris. Very convenient when I am not at home.
This is for the older style Hohner Super64 and 64X.
My Hardware just came from McMaster-Carr. I put a tiny towel that is threaded on the inside into the hole of the comb where the barrel screws normally go. Some glue holds the threaded dowel in position.

brorat · « **Reply #1 on:** September 26, 2024, 12:18:05 PM »

Good modification Ed! What material is the dowel?
And…can you provide the McMaster-Carr part specs, etc?
Thanks!

servus · « **Reply #2 on:** September 26, 2024, 12:50:57 PM »

Wish the other companies (besides Seydel) would put that on their programs. Would make life easier for all - and ist basically a logical way to construct harmonicas.

PJ

Age · « **Reply #3 on:** September 26, 2024, 12:51:03 PM »

Absolutely one at a time on old wood combs. One tight plate will prevent the comb from "relaxing," and ruining your day. If the comb looks good, you can usually get away with removing both reedplates, but be sure to finish the job at the first go. (Don't stretch the job out for a week or so) Any moisture absorbed into that comb, when left to dry "naked," will leave, and there's a chance your comb will be "negatively modified" when it dries.

If you remove both reedplates in order to fix a cracked comb, it's almost certain you'll never get it back together again. That's the only "down side" of replacing old nails with new screws and nuts on those old wooden combed Chromatics. (since screws and nuts still doesn't prevent combs cracking)

@ge

brorat · « **Reply #4 on:** September 26, 2024, 03:11:49 PM »

Ed’s talking about cover plates.

Age · « **Reply #5 on:** September 26, 2024, 10:08:01 PM »

Can't be, unless he ain't talking about old 270's and stuff. $:-\$

I got one of those stainless steel 270's from Vern Smith, with threaded screw holes in the comb for the coverplates. That about the only 270 I've ever seen that you can do that with.

@ge

Age · « **Reply #6 on:** September 26, 2024, 10:11:33 PM »

I know that I've kept the other cover plate in place by just "holding it on" in order to keep myself from screwing up the valves on the side that I wasn't working on.

If that's what ya mean, I retract everything I wrote.

Howzatt?

@ge

brorat · « **Reply #7 on:** September 26, 2024, 11:50:21 PM »

Nah! Ed got a threaded “dowel” from McMaster-Carr. Glued it somehow in the hole where the barrel screw normally goes. That way he could use separate screws for the two cover plates.

Ed McCullough · « **Reply #8 on:** September 27, 2024, 12:09:28 AM »

I am only writing about the Hohner Super 64 and 64X.
I will write about part numbers, Etc on friday.

The Lone Harper · « **Reply #9 on:** September 27, 2024, 01:00:34 AM »

I've achieved this using threaded brass inserts. I've also put inserts into the screw holes so that each reed plate can be removed and replaced independently of the other reed plate.

Age · « **Reply #10 on:** September 27, 2024, 02:33:47 AM »

Quote from: brorat on September 26, 2024, 11:50:21 PM

Nah! Ed got a threaded “dowel” from McMaster-Carr. Glued it somehow in the hole where the barrel screw normally goes. That way he could use separate screws for the two cover plates.

Oh that's cheatin! (but it IS kinda cool

) I need somethin like that for my MeisterKlasse. It's a pain in the shorts messing with those coverplates. Actually I need a whole new comb.

Ed McCullough · « **Reply #11 on:** September 28, 2024, 02:01:57 AM »

You can find the parts in McMaster.com.

92474A026 Female threaded round standoff, zinc-plated brass, 1/8" OD, 1/2" long, 2-56 thread size $2.73

91802A079 Passivated 18-8 stainless steel phillips oval head screws, 2-56 thread, 3/8 long, packs of 100 $4.46

McMaster-Carr's shipping cost to from Georgia to Texas is a bit over $10, via either UPS or USPS.
-------------------

I disassembled a harmonica that Bill Romel put together for me. I visited several hardware stores and McMaster-Carr website in order to come up with this formula.

I bought extras. For one chromatic harmonica, we need two of the standoffs and four screws. I will send you two standoffs and six screws if you send me a stamped self-addressed envelope and a ten dollar bill. Find an email link to me by clicking on my name on the left side of the screen, and I'll give you my USPS address.

Ed McCullough · « **Reply #12 on:** September 28, 2024, 12:24:56 PM »

This is what they look like.

Age · « **Reply #13 on:** September 28, 2024, 12:32:26 PM »

What, do you glue them in?

Ed McCullough · « **Reply #14 on:** September 28, 2024, 12:40:11 PM »

Yes, glue. Be careful to not get any glue into the threaded holes. My favorite glue is E6000. Any other glue with a somewhat slow drying time will work also.

Age · « **Reply #15 on:** September 28, 2024, 12:43:31 PM »

I just bought some E600 about a month ago. Lucky me. Now all I need is a bunch of those little screw kits

Ed McCullough · « **Reply #16 on:** September 28, 2024, 12:47:52 PM »

I always have E6000, brown masking tape, black tea, green tea, harmonicas, too many other things that I should be doing.

Age · « **Reply #17 on:** September 28, 2024, 11:24:13 PM »

Yeah, you too? Hey, I'm sposta be retired, but I got more irons than fires right now, and I don't see any relief in sight! $:-\$

Ed McCullough · « **Reply #18 on:** September 28, 2024, 11:32:33 PM »

A:
That's okay, as long as you have some regular time to squeeze your main squeeze, and I don't mean accordion.

Age · « **Reply #19 on:** September 29, 2024, 01:48:53 AM »

Always time for Mama!

Lockjaw Larry · « **Reply #20 on:** September 29, 2024, 07:45:50 AM »

Always time for Mama!
See how smart you are.?.?.?
Mama’s happy, you’re happy

Age · « **Reply #21 on:** September 29, 2024, 12:53:28 PM »

Gnarly He Man · « **Reply #22 on:** September 29, 2024, 05:37:46 PM »

My wife asked me, “do you want to know how you die?”
I said, “no, not really.”
So she says, “OK, never mind.”

Age · « **Reply #23 on:** September 29, 2024, 06:48:05 PM »

Like when they asked Bob Hope where he wanted to be buried; he said: "Surprise me."

Lockjaw Larry · « **Reply #24 on:** September 30, 2024, 09:35:20 PM »

: "Surprise me."
And they did. Just ask him.

Age · « **Reply #25 on:** September 30, 2024, 09:53:59 PM »

I will, but only if he went to the "Good place."

Ed McCullough · « **Reply #26 on:** November 27, 2024, 12:31:30 AM »

Payoff! Success! I love pulling one cover plate off at a time, scrubbing underneath a sticking blow valve, and whipping the cover plate back on without having to fiddle or oboe around. Have the need. Do it. Bam. Done.

Ed McCullough · « **Reply #27 on:** January 13, 2025, 02:36:45 PM »

The main benefit of removing one cover at a time is that I do not have a chance to damage the valves or the reeds on the other side. The unexpected additional benefit is the SPEED of opening up the harmonica, cleaning the valves and plates for the sticking blow notes, and putting the harmonica back together again. Bam, bam,bam and it is done.

Age · « **Reply #28 on:** January 13, 2025, 04:36:17 PM »

Yeah, any damage I've ever done to one of my girls could have been prevented with a cover plate. I finally started using tape or even rubber bands to hold one on while I fooled around with something on the other side.