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Doublereed Archive - Posting 000021.txt from 2003/01

From: ContraReed@-----.com
Subj: [DR-L] Bassoon cane
Date: Sun, 5 Jan 2003 14:02:58 -0500

The other day I started about 20 pieces of cane on their voyage to become
reeds. I soaked them for a few hours in boiling water to leech some gunk
out, then set them out to dry. Out of this group, over half started curling
up on themselves, some into nice, fairly neat semi-circles, and others into
almost drinking straw configurations. The rest kept their normal relatively
flat, gentle curve. I realize that cane being cane is going to differ from
piece to piece, and will try to remember which piece were which when the time
comes to make and finish the reeds, but I'm wondering if anyone has any ideas
of whether cane that does this will make worse reeds than the flatter pieces,
or is it just a function of the soaking and drying process. After the second
soaking, I took these pieces and fastened them to plexiglass rods/profiler
barrels/etc. to keep them from repeating the curling up process). FWIW, the
cane is about 12 years old, and the relative humidity in my basement is
usually 60 to 70%, so the drying process is a rather slow one.

Thanx in advance,

Richard