Klarinet Archive - Posting 000296.txt from 2002/10
From: Nick Simicich <njs@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Reedual
Date: Wed, 9 Oct 2002 15:43:42 -0400
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I apologize for the blank posting. I had composed a fairly long posting
about the topic. I will abridge it (Yes, this really is abridged):
I was interested in the whole topic of making your own reeds, so I searched
the web after reading the post I am answering, using reedual as a key. It
actually was very interesting, especially the part about adjusting reeds,
which I may well be able to put into practice, since I doubt I will make
reeds. I noted quite a few patent gadgets that allow you to convert cane
into reeds, jigs for planes, splitting knives, $90 French reed trimmers,
and this mechanical sanding pantograph as well as a pantograph
plane. There was also a carbide scraper in a jig that was designed to
reshape and thin reeds.
This is on top of the $400 oboe reed knives, and reed rush and other stuff,
oh my.
But among all of those, I noted something called a "Perfectareed", which is
similar to a common machine tool, and which sells for $175 plus shipping.
Folks, I believe this is a dial indicator mounted on a flat table. Now,
this is a perfectly reasonable tool, in fact, it may be exactly the right
tool for the purpose for measuring the physical thickness of a flat backed
reed at a spot, for comparing side to side thicknesses and for building a
profile. I could even imagine wetting a reed and putting it on a piece of
glass (so that it won't slide on the glass), and then sliding the glass on
the granite, and marking notes and contour lines with a wipe off marker
right on the glass as I slid it around.
So I will undertake to supply this tool to members of the list for $65 plus
shipping. I will supply dial indicators accurate to 0.0005" inches with a
1/2 inch travel, and a 6"x6"x2" granite block machined to 0.0005" flatness.
The flat granite will also provide a non-reactive, non-corroding surface
for reed drying. :-)
And, um, by the way, the price I quoted is marked up 100% over quantity 1
retail. To justify the markup, I will provide a test reed and I will label
it as a music product instead of a machine tool. I will even write out
instructions regarding how to use it and include a sample of 600 grit and
1000 grit sandpaper. Hmmm, you don't want to pay my markup? You don't
think that having them relabeled as "Musical Squawk Reed Thickness
Indicators" and getting a page of instructions is worth an extra
$30? Darn....well, then order them from Grizzly! And anyone who does
think that they are worth it, well, you can make your payments via paypal.
I understand that some of these items, especially the pantographs, are hand
made, most likely, one at a time in the manufacturers garages. I really do
not have much issue with the gadgets and jigs and pantographs and so forth
that are, even with the $400 custom reed knives --- I have a mill in my
garage, and I know that the stuff is not cheap and does not either run
itself or run quickly. But this particular item is just off the shelf,
and, whereas you can pay a lot for a dial indicator to get a brand name, it
will not be more accurate or work differently than a cheaper one with the
same specs. A dial indicator has a rack and some geared works, and the
gears move a needle that points to a scale. The multiplication of the gears
control the accuracy. Springs take up backlash, so that is not an
issue. Even the cheap ones are well machined.
--
"Forgive him, for he believes that the customs of his tribe are the laws of
nature!"
-- George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950)
Nick Simicich - njs@-----.com
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