Klarinet Archive - Posting 000491.txt from 2001/10

From: George Kidder <gkidder@-----.org>
Subj: Re: [kl] flattening backs of reeds
Date: Mon, 15 Oct 2001 13:04:13 -0400

Stan, could you tell us what grade of file that is. I don't remember the
system, but there are "coursenesses" for files as well as for
sandpaper. Can you get something as fine as #600 WOD paper?

Humorous sidelight - Eudora Pro has a "feature" called "MoodWatch" which I
have not disabled (yet.) It is supposed to identify offensive language and
warn you with 1 to 3 hot peppers. Your post got 3 peppers - probably
because you called the file by its right name! (Although actually I think
I remember that the file is a "mill bastard" file - maybe that would get
even more peppers!)

And when I went to send this, it objected, but only two peppers-worth. I
guess one bastard is not as offensive as two bastards. (Now when I send it
should get the full count.)

At 09:01 AM 10/15/01 -0500, you wrote:
>The Vandoren reed resurfacer and its generic equivalent (glass and #600 grit
>wet-dry sandpaper) surely work well for many folks. I've tried them both,
>but I prefer the results I get when I flatten my reeds on a file. I carry a
>10-inch flat bastard file (double cut) in my case, and for some reason, the
>results obtained from flattening reeds on the file seem superior to those
>obtained from glass and sandpaper.
>
>As to the reason for this, I can only offer some guesses...
>- first, sandpaper wears, and of course, wears inconsistently. The file
>does not wear.
>- the grit of the sandpaper can quickly become clogged with material from
>the reed, and the file does not. Surely this causes some sections of the
>paper to perform differently than other areas.
>- the file is flat. With the glass and sandpaper, surely the glass is flat,
>but is it still flat with the sandpaper on it? Perhaps... in fact, it
>probably is. But does the sandpaper have any creases in it, or anything
>else that would adversely affect true flatness? Is the grit of the
>sandpaper a consistent surface? I imagine it *might* be... but the file
>*is* flat.
>
>The above guesses aside, if you don't always like the results you get from
>glass and sandpaper, try a flat bastard file. A few dollars at a hardware
>store, and you are set for life. No hard evidence here, friends, but years
>of experience tells me this does seem to work better.
>
>Stan Geidel
>___________________
>Dr. Stanley Geidel
>Editor and Publisher
>THE ONLINE CLARINET RESOURCE
>www.ocr.sneezy.org
>
>
>---------------------------------------------------------------------

George Kidder
Senior Scientist and Instrumentation Officer
Mt. Desert Island Biological Laboratory
Salisbury Cove, ME

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