Reed plate sealing material

[Robthebluesguitarist]

I'm repairing a Lachenal concertina and need to replace the valve flaps and the valve plate seal material. 

Question. It looks like chamois leather, what material do you recommend.

Thanks in advance 

[Tiposx]

Hi Rob?

I buy my valves from C A Cornish. I have made some but it was hit and miss tbh - valves can make a lot of difference to the efficiency and tone of your concertina. Dodgy looking ones may reduce the chance of selling your instrument later on.

 

The pale yellow material on the reed chambers and the inside of the bellows frames is chamois. I buy mine in the form of car cleaning chamois. This was recommended to me by a professional restorer, and works well.

 

Cheers

 

Tiposx

[Robthebluesguitarist]

Thanks for your reply.

I've used CA Cornish, infact they are currently skiving some strip for me to do the bellows. I will ask them re valves.

Car cleaning chamois seams a sensible way forward.

Best regards 

[Matthew Heumann]

Some of us have successfully been using a synthetic material called "Ultrasuede" for chamber and pan seals. In some ways its more stable and not impacted by moisture or brittleness the way conventional leather is. I even use it in place of felt for button bushings. Feels just like chamois. Valves are still best left to leather!

[Alex West]

11 hours ago, Robthebluesguitarist said:

I will ask them re valves.

I spoke with Lynda Cornish yesterday.  They're changing their supplier for valve leather and are sending me some samples

 

Alex West

[Tiposx]

Hi Alex

I tried the samples that Lynda kindly supplied me with, and I prefer them to the previous ones. They are working well in three instruments already. I am no expert though. It would be interesting to hear the results of your evaluation.

Cheers

[Chris Ghent]

On 9/4/2024 at 8:24 AM, Matthew Heumann said:

Some of us have successfully been using a synthetic material called "Ultrasuede" for chamber and pan seals. In some ways its more stable and not impacted by moisture or brittleness the way conventional leather is. I even use it in place of felt for button bushings. Feels just like chamois. Valves are still best left to leather!

When instruments have come my way with leather in either of the button bushings I have felt it was thin. I think this is because under/after compression, leather does not bounce back like felt does.  It just gets thinner and thinner.