frankpmcenroe
Member
I am repairing Accordions as a hobby have been paying 50cents for one valve. that is too much I want to buy two hundred so it not worth fixing the accordion. does anyone make their own valves, I live in Australia.
Where to purchase reed valves in Italy or China.
- Thread starter frankpmcenroe
- Start date
Dingo40
Been here for ages!
Welcome Frank
Which state are you in?
Our member, Ventura, has suggested one could make reed valves from disused furniture-leather colour samples.
Perhaps he could elaborate?
Come in, Ventura!
But...
Look at this!
Also: If making your own valves, you can have "clicker" cutters made to order.
See here:
www.weaverleathersupply.com
Which state are you in?
Our member, Ventura, has suggested one could make reed valves from disused furniture-leather colour samples.
Perhaps he could elaborate?
Come in, Ventura!
But...
Look at this!
Accordion REED LEATHER LEATHERS VALVES SET OF 24 Size 1 Ventile für Akkordeons | eBay
These Reed Leathers are original, imported from Italy. High quality. Price is for one set of one size. For size 1, one set consists of 24 pieces.
www.ebay.com.au
See here:
Custom Leather Clicker & Cutting Dies - Weaver Leather Supply
You can count on Weaver Leather for quality made, pre-sharpened steel clicker dies that are constructed for maximum dependability.
www.weaverleathersupply.com
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Dingo40's suggestion (Bossetto Accordions) is not entirely unreasonable when you're in Australia.
So far I have only bought valves from Carini in Castelfidardo (Italy). They come in fairly large quantities (like 100+ for all but the largest sizes) and that keeps the cost per valve down.
There is also a small shop by Letizia Bompezzo in Castelfidardo that specializes in small items like valves.
So far I have only bought valves from Carini in Castelfidardo (Italy). They come in fairly large quantities (like 100+ for all but the largest sizes) and that keeps the cost per valve down.
There is also a small shop by Letizia Bompezzo in Castelfidardo that specializes in small items like valves.
frankpmcenroe
Member
Thanks will try Carini
frankpmcenroe
Member
Thanks I am in Queensland looking to buy 200 plus, leather/plastic valves.Welcome Frank
Which state are you in?
Our member, Ventura, has suggested one could make reed valves from disused furniture-leather colour samples.
Perhaps he could elaborate?
Come in, Ventura!
But...
Look at this!
Also: If making your own valves, you can have "clicker" cutters made to order.Accordion REED LEATHER LEATHERS VALVES SET OF 24 Size 1 Ventile für Akkordeons | eBay
These Reed Leathers are original, imported from Italy. High quality. Price is for one set of one size. For size 1, one set consists of 24 pieces.www.ebay.com.au
See here:
Custom Leather Clicker & Cutting Dies - Weaver Leather Supply
You can count on Weaver Leather for quality made, pre-sharpened steel clicker dies that are constructed for maximum dependability.
frankpmcenroe
Member
thanks
Siegmund
Well-known member
Carini (and others) will also sell you an assortment designed to replace every leather in an accordion of a certain size. The price still a bit more than 10 cents per reed if I recall.
Indeed. But then you have to be careful which valve to use where, and not mess up because you probably won't have many spares.
Hi Frank I'm certainly no expert but an inveterate experimenter and I cut all the reed valves for my Hohner club 2
I do have a slight advantage as I know an upholsterer
He had some “lambskin”and he explained that leather has a grain?not so much a grain but floppy and returns better in some places than others. I think it's the movement areas.
He had ordered some pneumatic leather for a concertina I was working on but the Lambskin worked fine I bought a hand skiving tool it worked ok but was a pain to use
The biggest issue was thicknessing and cutting it into neat strips I could then cut down.
It was an interesting project but very time consuming so I just buy them from CGM now.
http://www.cgmmusical.co.uk/CGM_Musical_Services/Reed_Valves.html#5
I do have a slight advantage as I know an upholsterer
He had some “lambskin”and he explained that leather has a grain?not so much a grain but floppy and returns better in some places than others. I think it's the movement areas.
He had ordered some pneumatic leather for a concertina I was working on but the Lambskin worked fine I bought a hand skiving tool it worked ok but was a pain to use
The biggest issue was thicknessing and cutting it into neat strips I could then cut down.
It was an interesting project but very time consuming so I just buy them from CGM now.
http://www.cgmmusical.co.uk/CGM_Musical_Services/Reed_Valves.html#5
frankpmcenroe
Member
Thanks for the reply. i will try lamb skin , goat skin could be good, . i will try many ways and let everyone know. I did get a old accordion managed to salvage a lot of leather valves. I have got many accordion parts from China all were good. Blazefine Store do new bellows even customized sizes. I have purchased from them. top quality low price.
Hi Frank I didn't really want to post it on here ,but in my local charity shop they have a craft section and had thin foam backed mylar sheets
I couldn't find out what it was used for as stuff is just donated ,but the lady did say she thought it came from a printing company.
It worked great easy to cut and I did consider trying to glue some thin foam to mylar sheets,It looked like it was heat bonded in some way
I didn't pursue it as if something more interesting presents itself ,I move on to that
Hi Ha- vent ,yes I think it was heat bonded ,you certainly couldn't peel it off and it worked great ,airtight and noiseless
I'm a little on the lazy side if something doesn't hold my interest,so I just didn't pursue it and I have absolutely no idea what it was originally used for.
You should please always buy valves from a reputable supplier, there is a good chance they will last for 20 years, valves made from bits of plastic and leather cut offs are not tried and tested.
Hi Colin innovation is through experimentation,I use synthetic valves on the treble reeds but plenty of the old accordions I bought used leather
Accordions are real old technology a perfect example is the 3D printed pallets,better mating surface ,closer tolerances ,lighter ,all identical ,over time I will replace all of mine.
Its plastic so I'm certainly not worried about longevity and the valves are going strong the club must be over 7 years now.
And all valves are made from bits of plastic or leather off cuts. .
frankpmcenroe
Member
I have always tried to use original type leather, here is another way to make valves that may be used by many repairers, we all have a laminator try putting one sheet through this gives you a laminated sheet to make valves, you can also put a extra sheet inside the fold that gives you 3 layers. a little bit more tension, tested on a reed bellows tuner you can see how they work. I have done this on a button accordion could not believe how good this worked.Hi Frank I didn't really want to post it on here ,but in my local charity shop they have a craft section and had thin foam backed mylar sheets
I couldn't find out what it was used for as stuff is just donated ,but the lady did say she thought it came from a printing company.
It worked great easy to cut and I did consider trying to glue some thin foam to mylar sheets,It looked like it was heat bonded in some way
I didn't pursue it as if something more interesting presents itself ,I move on to that
Hi Frank my mate was a bit stuck ,and cut up a dvd case "the clear plastic bit" and to my knowledge its still on
If you look at how string technologies have evolved over the years,guitars,violin ,ukes etc
Investment in R&D is directly linked to popularity ,for a very noisy instrument you would think there'd be a lot of digital options.
And certainly more entry level instruments.
I,m not sure how much research and development went into the choices of plastic and artifical leather valves
Cost was probably a big factor .I'm mid 60s and I went to an accordion group last weekend and I was the youngest one there !
I do wonder if some famous western pop star played the accordion ,what sort of boxes would now be available.
Xiane
Active member
An excellent plan!Hi Frank my mate was a bit stuck ,and cut up a dvd case "the clear plastic bit" and to my knowledge its still on
If you look at how string technologies have evolved over the years,guitars,violin ,ukes etc
Investment in R&D is directly linked to popularity ,for a very noisy instrument you would think there'd be a lot of digital options.
And certainly more entry level instruments.
I,m not sure how much research and development went into the choices of plastic and artifical leather valves
Cost was probably a big factor .I'm mid 60s and I went to an accordion group last weekend and I was the youngest one there !
I do wonder if some famous western pop star played the accordion ,what sort of boxes would now be available.
If Taylor Swift can date an NFL player, she can play an accordion. She's a talented musician, so all we have to do is get her to do one song, just one, with an accordion on stage...
I'll text her and ask.
That would be great Xiane every musical instrument manufacturer in the world would be making accordions
The choices and options would be unbelievable
I'm all for it ,providing I don't have to play one of her songs
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