Subject: [Harp-L] Cleaning brass?

[EGS1217@xxxxxxx]

Randy:  
 
Cleaning away old gunk and polishing up an old harmonica will  certainly do 
much to making it look and feel a lot better.
 
I can't speak to it lengthening the life of the reeds, but I always  clean 
the brass reedplates in my harps (both chromatic and diatonic), the inside  and 
outside of the metal covers, and have no worries about the product getting  
onto other surfaces (apart from wood)....because it's nowhere near as toxic  as 
Brasso and can clean even acrylic, glass and plastics.  I've used it for  
years: MAAS metal polish (works on silver, gold too - I use it on all my  
jewelry). 
 
I've bought a small tube at my local CVS store for around $5.00...but have  
paid as much as $7.99 out of town. It comes in much larger tubs for bigger  
household jobs too...is now suggested for other musical instruments (saxophones,  
horns, etc).
 
A tiny bit goes a long way...I'm careful to clean around the  reeds..and just 
the very tiniest smidgen perhaps on the tip of an orange  stick...and then 
cleaned off using non-shredding cloth on an especially  tarnished reed can also 
be done..but very carefully....I then wipe everything  down with Rubbing 
Alcohol as my final step (a soft toothbrush can ensure removal  of every trace 
too). Your brass and all other metal will shine like new with a  soft 'glow', and 
the polish will protect the underside of the cover plates  from future 
moisture...and even remove tarnish.
 
 Reeds can always be replaced...especially if they've 'died'...no  amount of 
cleaning can revive a dead/fractured reed. However reeds can be worked  on by 
tuning (filing, deburring of the reed slot, etc)...perhaps to  extend the life 
of an out of tune reed a bit.  Much information  thereto is available online
 
Did I emphasize enough just how gently one must clean around a reed?
 
Your harp might be in need of a tune-up...if it's Hohner it can be  sent in 
to them, for a very reasonable fee (replacement of bad  reeds/windsavers), 
screws, etc.  For a chromatic, it's well worth it.
 
Elizabeth
 
Message: 8
Date: Sat, 14 Mar 2009 13:51:45 -0400
From: Randy Power  <randy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Harp-L] Cleaning brass?
To:  <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Is there something I can do to restore the volume  and clarity of an old harp
to like new status? Can I clean the reeds with  Brasso or something? Will
that help? Or are there other things I need to do.  I¹d just like to lengthen
the life of some of my older  harps.

Thanks,

Randy
-- 


**************A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy 
steps! 
(http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1220439616x1201372437/aol?redir=http:%2F%2F
www.freecreditreport.com%2Fpm%2Fdefault.aspx%3Fsc%3D668072%26hmpgID%3D62%26bcd%3DfebemailfooterNO62)