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Topic: New Covers for Harlin Multi-Kords |
Alan Brookes
From:
Brummy living in Southern California
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Posted 14 Apr 2007 4:51 pm |
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The original tuner and mechanism covers from Harlin are nearly all shattered by now. Oil has been evaporating out of them all these years and they're so brittle that they split at a touch. Replacement covers are not available.
My daughter is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, and she's currently studying such useful subjects as lost wax casting, glass casting, plastics, etc. I asked how how easy it would be to make replacement covers and her response was that it would be a piece of cake, that once a mold had been made they could be cast in glass or plastic very easily.
I glued together all the shattered pieces of a cover to use as a template. All the covers seem to be the same size, whether for the 6 or 8 string versions. If I make a mold is anyone else interested in new covers ? If so, what color? The original thought was that the mechanism had to be hidden, so the covers I've seen were in semi-transparent pink or orange. I tend to think completely transparent would be better. Plastic would be an easier medium than glass since it has to be drilled for the hinge.
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 14 Apr 2007 6:23 pm
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| Most of the ones I've seen are black. I think a good material would be ABS plastic (the same stuff they make electrical boxes out of). It's very stable and impact-resistant. They could then be spray-painted any color that the owner wanted. |
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Danny James
From:
Summerfield Florida USA
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Posted 14 Apr 2007 7:19 pm
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I would like to hear more about your daughter's plan on how to make covers. Is there any way the average person with a home workshop can make them?
I have both 6 and 8 string Multi-Kords and the covers are bigger on my 8 string.
The covers were made originally in several different colors. The transparent flourescent covers such as the one you have pictured were sold as an add on specialty by Harlins.
My six string has a shiney black finish, the 8 string is more like a leather texture and is also black. I have another six string with a brown leather texture to it that has cracked and I repaired it from the inside with fiberglass and epoxy.
I have an older cast aluminum 6 string 4 pedal Multi-Kord that has cast aluminum covers. It is my first one that my father bought new when I was ten in 1948. I think it cost $98.00 back then. |
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Jim Sliff
From:
Lawndale California, USA
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Posted 15 Apr 2007 7:29 am
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I think black would be the most neutral color to use - the fluorescents were only on some models. If she's going to make some, black would likely be the most-requested. Personally, I don't like the idea of clear, which will also yellow or get scratched with age - although a smoked semi-transparent look is a kind of nice idea. And I definitely want ones for my 6-string!
_________________
No chops, but great tone
1930's/40's Rickenbacher/Rickenbacker 6&8 string lap steels
1921 Weissenborn Style 2; Hilo&Schireson hollownecks
Appalachian, Regal & Dobro squarenecks
1959 Fender 400 9+2 B6;1960's Fender 800 3+3+2; 1948 Fender Dual-8 Professional |
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Glenn Suchan
From:
Austin, Texas
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Posted 15 Apr 2007 8:29 am
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Sorry: double post
Last edited by Glenn Suchan on 15 Apr 2007 9:02 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Glenn Suchan
From:
Austin, Texas
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Posted 15 Apr 2007 9:01 am
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My first pedal steel was a Gibson Electraharp (reluctant cousin to the Harlin Multi-Kord). The covers on the Electraharp were/are clear, transparent plastic. The underside is painted which allows a choice of any color and maintains a high gloss surface. This is what I would suggest for replacements of Multichord covers.
Keep on pickin'!
Glenn |
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Alan Brookes
From:
Brummy living in Southern California
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Posted 16 Apr 2007 6:02 pm
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I was wrong about the sizes. I tried the 6-string cover on the 8-string and it was obviously too short and narrow. When I bought the 8-string it only had a small part of the cover left, so I wasn't able to glue the pieces together to make a template. It was black, by the way.
Since the idea is to produce a large number of covers the first process is to make a rubber mold. I haven't had time to talk to my daughter yet as to how to do it, but on Saturday I was at an exhibition by students where my daughter is studyiong, and they demonstrated several methods. They do have a large quantity of industrial machinery there, including kilns. I think if you made one at home you would need to use a different method. The original Harlin covers were made with a plastic-injection molding machine, which is an expensive proposition.
More anon... |
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