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From: WVERN
Date: Fri, 16 Jan 1998 16:25:31 EST
Subject: Re: premium grade harps, reed weights

In a message dated 98-01-16 10:59:14 EST, you write:

>
> Lee Oscar advises (in the instruction book that comes with the toolset), to
> use silver-solder to put some weight on the reeds. Has someone experience
> with this?
I have. I use the following procedure.

Tools required:
A flat toothpick
A very small soldering iron with a pointed tip
A chewing-gumm wrapper...foil on paper.
A Q-tip cotton swab

Materials required:
Paste solder flux
Small diameter electronic solder
A solvent such as MEK (laquer thinner) or lighter fluid.

Procedure:
1. Slip the wrapper under the reed paper side up, immobilizing it and
protecting nearby reedplate, windsaver and other reeds.
2. Using the pick, apply a thin coat of flux to an area about .06" wide and
about .1"long near the tip of the reed. Do not allow the flux to extend to
the edges or the tip of the reed.
3. Melt a small drop of the solder on the tip of the iron
4. Apply the tip of the iron to the center of the fluxed area.
5. As soon as the solder flows across the fluxed area, remove the iron and
blow to cool.
6. Swab with solvent to remove excess flux.

Note: the object is to apply too much solder and get the pitch too low. The
solder is very soft and easily scraped away with a knife blade to tune up to
the desired pitch.

Vern