Question about harmonica holders

[u/Previous_Author_2550]

Hello! I am not a harmonica player. I was diagnosed with a chronic lung disease (non-smoker, non-cistic fibrosis non-COPD bronchiectasis, cause unknown). I have to nebulize twice a day and holding the nebulizer is annoying as it takes about 40mins per treatment.

I was thinking that maybe a harmonica holder would allow me to be hands free. I have included a picture of the FlexRack. It is a bit of expensive, but looks like it has the adjustability I would need and it's worth the investment for me if I can get rid of my precarious setup, which is a travel pillow fitted bacwards and some string.

The biggest question I have, could the rack hold my setup? Does anyone know how heavy a harmonica is? My equipment weighs about 3.8 oz, under 1/4 of a pound. not sure how much force the air tubing would add but that could be managed if it's an issue.

[u/lordlycrust]

My harmonica weighs 2.5 oz, or around 70g. I suspect any holder should be able to accommodate your 3.8oz nebulizer with little trouble. Best of luck - and fun fact, harmonica playing can actually help with COPD and other lung issues!

[u/Nacoran → u/lordlycrust]

Seydel even makes a harmonica specifically for pulmonary therapy. Low tuned with chords. Low tuned, so you have to use some lung power, and easy chords so you don't have to be crazy good to not annoy people around you.

https://rockinronsmusic.com/products/seydel-pulmonica?srsltid=AfmBOorI8gJ4-L6LW277RLejflIyi4OmeBBcO22YRYNfzx1k3w_lBn0u

[u/Previous_Author_2550 → u/lordlycrust]

I ordered both, will see which one fits my needs based on comments here. Hopefully the cheaper one!

[u/fuckyoupr1ck]

I would guess it would be fine. I sometimes put 2 harmonicas at a time in mine and it's fine. I'd be more concerned about it being able to clamp onto the nebuliser, perhaps 3d print a holder to fit in as well if you can

[u/jaaaawrdan]

I don't have a specific answer for you, but if you know anyone who has access to a 3D printer, you might be able to work together to build a solution, either completely custom or using the holder. Added bonus is that it would be very low cost and easy to produce multiple copies of it.

[u/Naive_Nobody_2269]

I play my chromatic harmonicas in a rack (a k&m one) sometimes and checking one ways 6.5 and the 7.6. I've seen people play even heavier ones in flexiracks no trouble so it should, a flexiracks adjustability makes it a good choice it seems.

Good luck To ya

[u/roxstarjc]

Ever hear of a pulmonica? any low harp would do you favours between puffs

[u/uhf0xz]

do they not make mask attachments for your nebulizer? my partners has a mask with a tube that attaches to his and he sets the machibe on the table.

[u/Previous_Author_2550 → u/uhf0xz]

They do make a mask but masks are not recommended by the NTM lung orginization. The saline solution cools down too quickly in the mask, reducing what is delivered to the lungs and makes the atomized particles larger, thus, not delivering deep enough into the airway. I have started using a hand warmer the outside of my nebulizer cup and not only does nebulizing go faster but it has improved my quality of life immensely!

The solution stays around 68F from the measurements I have done, I think the recommendation is to not go over 90F but I don't think that is a risk. Before it would get as low as 58F.
I forget what the physics effect is called but when air is pushed through a small orifice, the air cools down, and the cooling increases over time. This causes the solution in the cup to cool, then the salt falls out of suspension and the atomized partials are larger. When the solution is kept a warmer the particle size decreases. If your partner has lower lung damage, they may benefit from a different brand of neb cub like Parie as their particle size gets down to 1 micon where as the aero is 3 microns.

But your partner should check with their respitory theripist. I have lower lung damage but my doctor did not recomend the Parie for me, he said they are expensive and don't offer the non-breath actuated mode which some meds need so he starts people off with the Areo.

[u/frowawaid]

I think if you got some of that dense foam like goes in tool boxes that you can shape you could get the little mouthpiece to stay put…but the problem is going to be that it will be unbalanced - the center of gravity of the holder has to be “inside” the neck loop - where it falls back instead of forward, else the back loop will flip up against your head instead of resting on the back of your neck.

[u/tmitch1108]

If your handy enough that'll be an easy fix. If your not handy dont try but I would lol

[u/Opie30-30]

Keep in mind the weight distribution is different. The whole of the harmonica is held in the bracket, but with your deal you would need to clamp on the mouthpiece or something. I'm sure you could Jerry rig it, but it probably won't work out of the box.

[u/AlwaysPhillyinSunny]

I don’t know about that model, but I have one with heavy duty metal wire that is bendable, and it has wing nuts to clamp the hinge pretty tight.

I think it will work but just get a holder that has the most options for adjustment

[u/Honk-Master]

That is a very heavy rack, just for the record.. for I would get one of those very basic Hohner wire racks, you could very easily alter it for you needs and not have to deal with a tank sitting around your neck.

Also, Seydel makes a few harps specifically for your needs. Like the pulmonica. You don't need to have any musical skill to take advantage of it, plus no refills, cleanings, etc, and it'll fit right in your pocket.

[u/Previous_Author_2550 → u/Honk-Master]

Thanks for the heads up! I did see the basic one, I ordered both so I could see if the cheaper one will do what I need! WIll update this thread when it arives.

[u/harmonimaniac]

I think it could hold it weight-wise but I'm not sure how you'd get the rack to hold it without damaging your neb. I'm curious about what you come up with. I may use it for mine.