Loosening Riveted Reeds

[Greg Jowaisas]

In following the thread on riveted reeds by Chris Drinkwater it occured to me that I have a riveted reed Wheatstone slated for the workbench. When I initially opened up the instrument I noticed that most reed shoes seemed firmly stuck in their dovetails. On conventional shoes I might place a small wood block against the screwed down reed clamp and gently "persuade" the shoe to come free.

 

But with a riveted reed there is no such purchase point.

 

Any hints or techniques to coax a riveted reed shoe out of its reed pan?

 

Thanks for your help.

 

Greg

[David Barnert]

But with a riveted reed there is no such purchase point.

 

Any hints or techniques to coax a riveted reed shoe out of its reed pan?

Maybe this will work: Hold the reed pan in a vertical plane with the reed you want to knock loose at the bottom (6:00 position). Then, if the lowest point of the pan is not a corner, turn the pan slightly so that a corner is the lowest point and the reed is a little off the 6:00 position (in other words, you don't want the edge that the reed is on to be horizontal at the bottom of the pan). Tap the low corner on the workbench surface, first gently, then, if necessary, with increasing force. The inertia carrying the reed shoe downward as the pan comes to a quick stop against the workbench might cause it to come out of its wedged position.

 

Be careful, however, in that this same action might also drive the reeds at the top edge of the pan to wedge themselves into the pan.

[stella24]

i have also worked on the riveted wheatstone reedpan, and the tight frames do need a little more work to remove. using a small hardwood block and hammer, i hold the block against the rivet and carefully tap while at the same time hold down firmly on the toe of the frame as it slides out, so as not to DEFORM THE DOVETAIL!!

[JimLucas]

In following the thread on riveted reeds by Chris Drinkwater it occured to me that I have a riveted reed Wheatstone slated for the workbench. When I initially opened up the instrument I noticed that most reed shoes seemed firmly stuck in their dovetails. On conventional shoes I might place a small wood block against the screwed down reed clamp and gently "persuade" the shoe to come free.

 

But with a riveted reed there is no such purchase point.

Here's an idea; see what you think:

In a small block of hardwood -- about the size of a reed frame? -- create a depression about the size and shape of the rivet head. Position it so that the rivet head fits into the depression, press down, and then press or tap the wood block in the "out" direction.

I think that should provide enough contact with the surfaces of both rivet and reed frame to transfer the force to the reed assembly without damage. It's not something that I've done, but I think it would be worth a try.

Edited May 22, 2006 by JimLucas