Klarinet Archive - Posting 000665.txt from 2004/11

From: "Erik Tkal" <bbtkal@-----.net>
Subj: RE: [kl] Sandpaper vs. Reed knife
Date: Wed, 24 Nov 2004 09:07:33 -0500

Tony Pay wrote:
>=20
> Because, if you use sandpaper carelessly, you may remove the softer =
wood that
> lies between the fibres, whilst leaving the fibres themselves =
relatively
> intact. (That cannot happen with a knife, because a knife doesn't =
mould to
> the surface it is abrading.)
>=20
> Clearly you want to control how much you thin the fibres, relative to =
how
> much you thin the softer wood, in order to obtain the best results.
>=20
> But once you understand *that*, then you can use a knife, or =
sandpaper, or
> *both*, to modify a reed.
>=20
> Tony
> --=20
------------------------------------

I bought one of those reed glass and wand kits from Vandoren, it seems =
to work quite well. And the wand, being hard, doesn't mould to the =
surface.

One question I do have, though, is regarding the fiber ends. I read =
somewhere, and was told by a teacher as well, that one should rub the =
surface of the reed with your finger in order to close the ends of the =
fibers to keep water from soaking in. This runs counter to the earlier =
mention that this is undesirable because working it with your finger can =
ruin the reed. What's the right answer? Should the ends be closed off =
somehow, or does this really not make a difference?

Erik Tkal

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