Hohner Reed Rivets

Hello Harp Techs,

Recently Angel Georgiev (Spain) posted questions regarding harmonica reed rivets. I thought it would be a useful topic to review: Tools required will be a light weight hammer, and a reed Removal/Peening anvil similar to Richard Sleigh and/or Bill Romel:

https://hotrodharmonicas.com/new-tools/ check for availability

https://www.bluesharmonica.com/romel_harmonica_reed_rivet_tool

Reed rivets start out as approximately 5” long rods--with 8 rivets per inch--stacked into a vertical cassette aligned perfectly above the reed pad hole. Warning: repurposing previously used rivets is very difficult 

Inside the RED circle is a bullet shaped rivet, still attached to the other connected rivets. After the rivet is broken off, and it’s pointed head is inserted into the reed tab pilot hole. A foot pedal activated press squishes the rivet into the reed plate and causes the middle of the rivet to balloon outward--holding the rivet in place.

See the midriff bloating outward?

Similar to my framing hammer, the top part of the press has a waffle finish. You can see the imprint on the top of the rivets. The purpose is to make certain the rivet doesn’t shift around as it’s head is being smashed! The oversized rivet head will secure the reed in place.

The opposite end of the rivet is flattened by the bottom smooth surface of the press.

Your Harpsmith, Kinya