Is there a good solvent for cleaning reeds?

[VintageIorio]

I'm a beginner but one of these days....I'm going to try to recondition reed blocks on my eBay Hohner Tango II M.

I've read about cleaning reeds by using a soft brass brush. But is there something else I could also use? I don't know where this accordion has been over the past 60 years so I don't know what kind of gunk might be on the reeds. When I get to that point I would like to reinstall the reeds in the reed block CLEAN so maybe they won't have any kind of oily film that attracts dust.

There should be a good solvent to soak them in after brushing with the brass wire brush. But I don't know for sure.

Any opinions?

--Loren

 

[JIM D.]

If the reeds are not rusted just soak them in denatured alcohol and use a small brush (paint brush) to remove residue. The brass bristle brush will not harm the steel tongues but will cut into the aluminium reed plates on machine made reeds.

 

[VintageIorio]

If the reeds are not rusted just soak them in denatured alcohol and use a small brush (paint brush) to remove residue. The brass bristle brush will not harm the steel tongues but will cut into the aluminium reed plates on machine made reeds.

Thanks Jim! You da man! :ch Now I have to look up denatured alcohol. I think its ethyl alcohol (hooch) but with stuff added so people dont drink it?

 

[JIM D.]

http://www.rockler.com/denatured-alcohol - or 99% isopropyl alcohol (also called rubbing alcohol) - Drinking either of these will cause blindness.

 

[george garside]

I use methylated spirit is that similar to denatured alchohol?. it does the job .

geore

 

[dunlustin]

methylated spirits = methyl alcohol, more toxic than ethyl alcohol (what we drink) reputed to cause blindness, it's the wee drop thrown for the Little People when the still first begins to produce.
I know it has nothing to do with the subject but Viva thread drift.

 

[JIM D.]

Methyl alcohol works just as well. I use alcohol for a solvent as it will not harm the finish on instruments. I only purchase a pint at a time and the local paint stores seem to have it priced lowest.

 

[Glenn]

Probably the modern alcohol to use is isopropyl alcohol. An excellent solvent and fast evaporating.
It's commonly used for cleaning electrical contacts.