Doublereed Archive - Posting 000117.txt from 2007/02

From: herb fawcett <herbgosia@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [DR-L] plastic vs wood placques
Date: Mon, 05 Feb 2007 14:26:59 -0500

For making bassoon reeds, I have used contoured metal, flat metal, contoured
wood, large and small contoured plastic, and yes,occasionally guitar picks.
Flexibility of the plaque has not been a problem, but I do use a sharp
knife. I prefer lightly contoured clear plastic (thanks, Chris Weaitt); it
is easy on the knife, and I do not have to remove it to pass a light through
the blade for observation, a real time saver.
Oboe reeds being so tiny, you must use very little contour in the plaque. If
it does not insert far enough, I can see how a crack could occur if the
plaque is inadequately supported by the back of the blade and bends away
from the pressure of the knife. Lengthen the supporting lever-arm by putting
the plaque farther into the reed.
Herb

On 2/5/07 9:59 AM, "David Weiss" <weiss440@-----.com> wrote:

> Hi Ed.
>
> The issue is not the $6, although, as they say, "a penny saved is a
> penny earned."
>
> Plastic does have a couple of advantages over wood:
> 1) even though wood is way better than metal, plastic is even softer,
> and therefore less wearing on the knife
> 2) using plastic, you can fashion your placque exactly to the size
> you like
>
> on the other hand, use wood if:
> 1) you like the contour
> 2) you prefer more rigidity, less flex, to avoid possible cracking if
> the reed is unsupported by the finger while scraping
>
> in any event, AVOID METAL!
>
> As to your other question, no I didn't write the novel about Mozart
> (wish I could say I did!)
>
> David Weiss
> Los Angeles
>
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> It's the Woodwind.Org 2007 donation drive!
> Visit https://secure.donax-us.com/donations/ for more information
> For personal help: email doublereed-owner@-----.org
> Doublereed is a service of Woodwind.Org, Inc. http://www.woodwind.org
>

---------------------------------------------------------------------
It's the Woodwind.Org 2007 donation drive!
Visit https://secure.donax-us.com/donations/ for more information
For personal help: email doublereed-owner@-----.org
Doublereed is a service of Woodwind.Org, Inc. http://www.woodwind.org