steel source for thumb pianos
Aptrev
have a couple of old Hugh Tracey box resonators missing keys
need suggestions for good commercial source(s) of flat steel/spring steel
stock, preferably in a variety of width sizes that can be used as the keys for
a thumb piano.
Anyone know what company provides the source for the steel used in the
do-it-yourself kits?
thanks
Anton
Tpwhiteco
his "snake" - a long strip of 3/16" x 0.060" spring steel for reaching for
wires down in walls. He cursed and stuff, and I said "can I keep that?" I
betit would be close to perfect for your application.
I am sure it can be gotten pretty cheap from McMaster Carr, Grainger or MSC or
any other major tool catalog, in many flavors and sizes. Call a local scrap
metal business to see what they have laying around, and you might get a
lifetime supply for a few bucks. I get big plates of brass and aluminum this
way for $1 per pound.
-Tim White
Aptrev
his "snake" - a long strip of 3/16" x 0.060" spring steel for reaching for
wires down in walls. He cursed and stuff, and I said "can I keep that?" I
betit would be close to perfect for your application >>
Good observation. I have used that steel but haven't found very many flavors or
sizes yet. Pretty stiff or rather limp, not much inbetween.
I'd like to find the source used in the kits or the Hugh Tracey type kalimba.
Seems to be it should be a standard stock used for many applications. I've seen
thumb pianos keys in 3 0r 4 different width gauges of this stock but what is
the commercial source?
Anton
Derek D
or whatever to cut the pieces to length. If they lose too much temper
(become too soft, although at the short length, that won't be too much of a
problem) heat them up to a dull red on your stove, and run them under the
tap to cool them off. they'll then be nice and springy.
Derek Darling
Aptrev <apt...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20000320121934...@ng-bj1.aol.com...
Pat Missin
news:20000320121934...@ng-bj1.aol.com...
> hi
> have a couple of old Hugh Tracey box resonators missing keys
> need suggestions for good commercial source(s) of flat steel/spring steel
> stock, preferably in a variety of width sizes that can be used as the keys
>for
> a thumb piano.
> Anyone know what company provides the source for the steel used in the
> do-it-yourself kits?
>
> thanks
> Anton
You can get good quality 3/16" wide spring steel from Musicmaker's
Kits:
-- Pat Missin.
Aptrev
Message-id:
<F3SE4.6654$eh.8...@news.bc.tac.net>
wrote:
Acquire an old lawn rake with flat steel tines >>
(snip hints)
Another good suggestion for steel source.
However I am looking for clean polished steel for a precise clean look. Maybe I
need to look in Science equipment catalogs rather than industrial sources. Sort
of like what they use to make test tube clamps? And the real question is where
does the science catalog get it wholesale?
Anton
Aptrev
Message-id: <38e73d8d...@read.news.global.net.uk> >>
wrote:
<< You can get good quality 3/16" wide spring steel from Musicmaker's
Kits:
Thanks for the kit site, hadn't seen that one.
But rather than buy a kit to get a few pre-cut tynes, I'd like to know the
wholesale source that the kit makers and commercial kalimba makers use to get
their steel so that I can cut the steel into special custom lengths.
Anton
Chris Goodland
five or six in my area give it a try for your city and if that doesn't
help I will give you some phone numbers in my area. -CHRIS
Aptrev
<< Message-id: <38E7F9B1...@bellsouth.net> >
wrote:
<< I just did a yellow pages search for steel suppliers and came up with
five or six in my area give it a try for your city >>
Some suppliers want you to buy big volume and some specialize in certain stock.
I would guess that the actual number of makers of high grade steel (&
stainless) flat stock wire/rod is small, probably a specialty niche industry.
There ought to be a central or single major distribution source for the
material before it hits any catalogs.
No?
Anton
Chris Goodland
get whatever grade you are after in whatever quantity you want. There is
a lot of offshore oilfield fabrication in this area and stainless is the
prefered choice for control panels. How much do you want and where do
you want me to send it. Or, would you like to call them direct.
1-337-837-4381. -CHRIS
THO X BUI
Chris Goodland wrote in message <38E9DC30...@bellsouth.net>...
This may seem obvious, especially if you're a metallurgist :-)... but
stainless steels in the annealed state is soft enough that it may take a
permanent and not spring back properly when plucked.
The better material is heavily cold worked steels, stainless or otherwise.
The best material is music wire,which is very hard. You can also get music
wire at most craft and hardware stores (e.g., Ace hardware), up to 3/16" dia
x 36" long.
Tho
Pat Missin
Thar's what I am telling you. :-)
As well as selling kits, Musicmaker's Kits sells the spring steel in
bulk, for a dollar a foot and they might even give you a bit of a
discount if you buy a real lot of it. They only carry the 3/16" size,
though. If it's not listed on their web site, you may have to email
them to ask for it. It's definitely listed in their current catalog
and I've bought it from them in the past.
Aptrev
Message-id: <38E9DC30...@bellsouth.net> >>
wrote:
<< In my area there is a company called Aluminum & Stainless. You can
get whatever grade you are after in whatever quantity you want. >>
Sounds like a great place, do they have a catalog?
Do they have flat steel from 1/16th up to one inch wide
in 1mm and 2mm thickness in rolls or do they have do cut it from sheets?
may try calling them as I check around for sources
thanks
Anton
Aptrev
Message-id: <8cedu5$ba70$1...@newssvr03-int.news.prodigy.com> >>
wrote:
<< The better material is heavily cold worked steels, stainless or otherwise.
The best material is music wire,which is very hard. You can also get music
wire at most craft and hardware stores (e.g., Ace hardware), up to 3/16" dia
x 36" long. >>
Yes.
The music wire is round so I would have to hand flatten and it becomes
difficult to keep even/uniform thickness. I suppose I could get some machine
shop to flatten it for me with some kind industrial press or something. But of
course I am trying to keep costs down. :-)
Suggestions?
thanks
Anton
Aptrev
Message-id: <38ea91c6...@read.news.global.net.uk> >>
wrote
<< Musicmaker's Kits sells the spring steel in
bulk, for a dollar a foot and they might even give you a bit of a
discount if you buy a real lot of it. They only carry the 3/16" size,
though. If it's not listed on their web site, you may have to email
them to ask for it. >>
Didn't see it on the website, so I will definitely email them. Thanks.
Do you find other sizes anywhere special?
Anton
THO X BUI
Aptrev wrote in message <20000407124608...@ng-fw1.aol.com>...
Music wire is extremely hard so trying to flatten them will be an exercise
in futility. It has been heat treated to the point that almost no real
permanent deformation can be done--bending is OK, but flattening it is
practically impossible.
I'm no expert in thumb pianos, but I was told that in some African
countries, the steel is taken from bicycle spokes (which are either
galvanized carbon steel or stainless steel), and beaten with a ball peen
hammer.
That maybe your best bet: an junk yard bicycle wheel, a wire cutter, and a
ball peen hammer.
Tho
Tpwhiteco
steel, about 1/4" x 1/16". It broke on him and I got to keep the 8-foot end,
which has served me well for the odd spring steel application here and there in
the shop. It looks to my inexpert eye as perfect for thumb piano's.
Tim White
Tpwhiteco
no-brainer. I do this to make micro-chisels of various sizes. It even seems
to keep its temper, as evidenced by being able to sharpen the flattened edge
just like a regular chisel. I just grind the splayed out edges square to make
it look more official, and glue the other end into a wooden handle.
Tim White
Aptrev
Date: Fri, Apr 7, 2000 9:18 PM
Message-id: <8cmbq9$19h4$1...@newssvr04-int.news.prodigy.com> >>
wrote
<< I'm no expert in thumb pianos, but I was told that in some African
countries, the steel is taken from bicycle spokes (which are either
galvanized carbon steel or stainless steel), and beaten with a ball peen
hammer.
That maybe your best bet: an junk yard bicycle wheel, a wire cutter, and a
ball peen hammer. >>
They also use common large nails, bed mattress springs etc., but I have seen at
least 4 or 5 different width sizes of spring steel used by american thumb piano
makers but I have no idea what their industrial source is. No work needed
except cutting the length and grinding the play end smooth. I am seeking
something clean and precise where I don't have to waste alot of time prepping.
Call it 50% laziness. 50% pristine design.
:-)
Anton
Aptrev
From: tpwh...@aol.comblarf (Tpwhiteco)
Date: Wed, Apr 12, 2000 6:36 AM
Message-id: <20000412093600...@ng-ch1.aol.com> >>
wrote
<< I find you can flatten piano wire simply by hammering it on an anvil, realy
a
no-brainer. I do this to make micro-chisels of various sizes. >>
I like the micro-chisel idea, what do you use them for?
Do you use a forging hammer?
I have hand flattened bicycle spokes and umbrella ribs etc. but I find it
impossible to keep the thickness even along the length and the thickness
consistent among a batch (of say 9 tynes). Besides it is then difficult to
remove evidence of the work to get the clean precise look.
B
Anton
Chris Goodland
in mass quantities just about anywhere like lumber yards. It shouldn't
cost anything for scraps that they would throw away, any way. It is
pliant enough to shape with common tools, soft enough to file rough
edges. You can cut it with nothing more than "dura-shears" in just about
any length. It can also be purchsed at just about any hardware store if
you need it to be clean/unused. I don't know why I didn't think of it
earlier. -CHRIS
Aptrev
Date: Fri, Apr 14, 2000 5:57 PM
Message-id: <38F7BE75...@bellsouth.net> >>
<<
Here is an idea. What about steel palet strapping. You can pick it up
in mass quantities just about anywhere like lumber yards. >>
[snip]
Yes.
I have used strapping before. Seems to come in 2 grades, too thin for good
vibration drive or so thick it is difficult to play. Works OK for the larger
style afro/cuban/brazilian box that adds bass texture, can't recall the
instrument name at the moment.
I have been looking for a source for something called Valu-Band or Valu-Strap
or Kwik-Strap. It is the strapping they use to anchor certain traffic signs to
lightpoles. Seems to come in several widths and it is a nice clean silver
color, but haven't found a good source yet.
Anton
Chris Goodland
being easy to work, though. -CHRIS
strafor...@gmail.com
> You can also get that strapping in stainless. I couldn't imagine it
> being easy to work, though. -CHRIS
mko...@gmail.com
https://www.kalimbamagic.com/shop/accessories/spring-steel-for-kalimba-tines-3mm-floppy
http://www.kalimbamagic.com/newsletters/newsletter4.08/makeyourown.shtml
orch...@gmail.com
Crowd Magician
> hi
> have a couple of old Hugh Tracey box resonators missing keys
> need suggestions for good commercial source(s) of flat steel/spring steel
> Anyone know what company provides the source for the steel used in the
> do-it-yourself kits?
> thanks
> Anton