Weltmeister accordion 'wax'

[jollyrogeraccordions]

I've noticed this previously but can never quite believe it. It looks like Weltmeister use paraffin (candle) wax to mount their reeds. I know of someone (a uk repairer) who mixes beeswax (which is quite brittle) with paraffin wax. I use the sticky stuff from CariniDena… interested in comments. I guess it's ok as long as you don't leave the accordion in a hot place…and if its good enough for Weltmeister then etc. The picture is from a Achat I have on my bench at the moment.

 

[debra]

There may be a good reason why they started doing this.
Here is a picture of an older Weltmeister Achat (made in the Czech Republic if I'm not mistaken, judging from its register switches).
This one was made with regular accordion wax on the plastic reed blocks and the adhesion was very poor to say the least.
The paraffin wax may be better for this rubbish reed block material, maybe?

 

[jollyrogeraccordions]

That's a possibility. I also had an older Weltmeister on the bench with regular wax (plastic blocks). The other iniquity are their bellows with rubberised gussets.. I have a lovely little Galotta but totally useless because the rubber gusset has failed. I've just ordered some proper bellows from CariniDena…

 

[Rosie C]

There may be a good reason why they started doing this.
Here is a picture of an older Weltmeister Achat (made in the Czech Republic if I'm not mistaken, judging from its register switches).
This one was made with regular accordion wax on the plastic reed blocks and the adhesion was very poor to say the least.
The paraffin wax may be better for this rubbish reed block material, maybe?

This makes me think I want to pull the bellows pins and see what my Weltmeister is like inside!

 

[Dingo40]

...I want to pull the bellows pins and see what my Weltmeister is like inside!

Quite understandable. The only problem is will it affect the bellows seal?

 

[JIM D.]

Now I've been working on aucoustic accordions for some 50 years now and also
Roland "V" accordions for 10+ years.
Now I have run into the plastic reed block problems with wax many times and
have found a solution that works very well and had zero complaints in the past
years. (1) Now first of all you will need a good quality reed wax. By good I mean a
a reed wax that is pure beeswax with a small amount of rosin for adhesion.
(2) you will also need some 80 grit sandpaper.
(3) the preparation -- Clean all the old wax from the plastic reed block(it will flake
off easily. (4) with the 80 grit sand lighlty all the areas of the reed block you
want the wax to adhere to. (5) wax your reeds in as you would with a wooden
reed block. Now you can try this on a clean sheet of plastic. Scuff a section and
and melt some wax into the scuffed portion an some to the unscuffed portion.
The wax on the unscuffed portion will flake off easily while the wax on the scuffed
portion will be difficult to remove. Give it a try and good luck !!!

 

[debra]

...
Now I have run into the plastic reed block problems with wax many times and
have found a solution that works very well and had zero complaints in the past
years. ...

Many thanks for this tip! I wonder why Weltmeister doesn't already do this in the factory... but it's good to know that the adhesion problem can be fixed during a repair and tuning job.

 

[Ffingers]

Now I've been working on aucoustic accordions for some 50 years now and also
Roland "V" accordions for 10+ years.
Now I have run into the plastic reed block problems with wax many times and
have found a solution that works very well and had zero complaints in the past
years. (1) Now first of all you will need a good quality reed wax. By good I mean a
a reed wax that is pure beeswax with a small amount of rosin for adhesion.
(2) you will also need some 80 grit sandpaper.
(3) the preparation -- Clean all the old wax from the plastic reed block(it will flake
off easily. (4) with the 80 grit sand lighlty all the areas of the reed block you
want the wax to adhere to. (5) wax your reeds in as you would with a wooden
reed block. Now you can try this on a clean sheet of plastic. Scuff a section and
and melt some wax into the scuffed portion an some to the unscuffed portion.
The wax on the unscuffed portion will flake off easily while the wax on the scuffed
portion will be difficult to remove. Give it a try and good luck !!!

Good to see you on here again, Jim, I have found you contributions to be invaluable to my education on things accordion.