 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: TrueApricot
Date: 2006-01-19 05:40
I was just wondering what other people do with their used reeds that are totally unplayable. I personally feel bad about throwing them away in a trash can.
I once thought of building a minuature cabin..
Is there any good use of them?
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Author: susieray
Date: 2006-01-19 05:56
Attachment: reeds.jpg (98k)
I like to draw faces on them.
Sue
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Author: ElBlufer
Date: 2006-01-19 06:05
I think of everything frustrating in my life, and proceed to crack the reed in half. Use them as theraputic devices :D
My Setup:
R13 Clarinet (Ridenour Lyrique as my backup/marching instrument)
Walter Grabner K11 mouthpiece
Rico Reserve 3.5's
Bonade ligature
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Author: EEBaum
Date: 2006-01-19 06:22
Friend of mine once burned one and wrote something along the lines of "This is what happens to bad reeds" on cement with its charred remains.
There's always the tried-and-true "Wall Test" (and its cousin the "Floor Test," good during rehearsals). If you think a reed is really bad, you give it the wall test. That is, you shove it, tip first, into the wall as hard as you can. If it survives, then it was actually quite a good reed after all and you should move it to the front of the rotation.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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Author: RodRubber
Date: 2006-01-19 06:22
Someone I know once made an african style mask out of used and disgarded clarinet reeds.
Best regards to TK
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2006-01-19 06:44
Susieray, are you sure Vandoren is the best brand for drawing faces on? Has anyone tried other brands for that? 
I don't feel bad about throwing them in the trash, but I always crush them with my teeth before I throw them. Not sure why, just a habbit I guess.
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2006-01-19 07:04
I use a decommissioned reed to protect the mpc while it's in the case. Keeps the ligature from rattling.
Having two kids I often am asked to repair some toy. Old reeds make perfect glue/plaster spatulas.
With a bit of PVC tube and an old reed you could make a nice duck whistle.
Glue them together and make stylish coasters.
Shove one of them under the too short leg of a wobbly table.
Use them as bookmarks.
Split them and make toothpicks or nail cleaners.
...
--
Ben
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Author: crnichols
Date: 2006-01-19 10:46
My dad discovered that they are perfect for getting car polish out from under the mouldings on his car.
Christopher Nichols
1st Infantry Division Band
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2006-01-19 11:41
I use them as glue spreaders - cut the tip square and they're ideal for spreading Evo-Stik evenly on tenon corks.
Or as support wedges when drilling a 1.1mm hole through a key barrel and steel (as in oboe feathers and trill keys, before tapping out to 12BA and pinning), so the whole lot doesn't bend down once the drill starts biting.
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2006-01-19 11:50
Hi,
Are you sure the reeds are really dead? I have no business interest in the ATG reed system but since I got it a couple of years ago, I found that many reeds that I thought were dead just needed a few swipes and they were winners. For the last two years, I have not opened a box of reeds and I must 20 to 30 new boxes in my closet ready to be used.
I did recently throw away two boxes full of junk reeds that had been played and adjusted as far as they could go. While this was a little difficult to do (because I am very thrifty), it did feel good to finally part with these old friends some of whom went back to my college days almost 50 years ago. That was like a museum trip as I had some old Hines Supremes, original Olivieris, many VDs, and even some Ricos. But for the most part, new reeds are much superior.
I have a pal that is getting an ATG system soon and has confessed to being a little sick when thinking about all the Morre reeds she has pitched in the past. The long and the short if it though is that many reeds that we have given up on (assuming that the tip is still good and there are no real physical problems) may still have some life at a later period.
However, if I have tried about three times to renew a reed though with no success, I know it is time to probably lighten my reed locker load and out it goes.
HRL
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2006-01-19 12:10
A few years ago, the box where kept the bad reeds because I couldn't quite admit they were really most sincerely dead, filled up. Rather than start a new box, I emptied out that one and threw away nearly all of the collection. Then I started destroying defective or worn out reeds by breaking them, as a way to force myself to throw them out. I still seem to have a fairly sizeable collection of reeds that are barely broken in and not defective--I just don't like them. I tell myself I keep them in case they work well on a differerent instrument or mouthpiece someday. (Yeah, right. Mostly I just keep them.)
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
Post Edited (2006-01-19 12:10)
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Author: FrankM
Date: 2006-01-19 12:31
I used to have a parrot named Sinbad....he loved chewing up old reeds. He'd spend hours destroying reed...when he was done there would be nothing left but slivers of wood. He prefered tenor sax reeds but clarinet reeds were acceptable
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Author: Douglas
Date: 2006-01-19 14:16
When my son was little he had a grade school assignment to create something that had one hundred items in its construction. We took 100 Vandoren reeds and made a native-like reed hut. I don't think the teacher ever saw anything like it before or after. I just know GBK will think this is the perfect use of Vandorens.
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Author: Tim P
Date: 2006-01-19 14:27
Right now I have them all in a box. It is shut tight and very dark. Sometimes I shake the box. It is my hope that they will time to reflect on their devious behavior and decide to change their ways. Some of the free reeds are complaining and stating that this is torture. (I know this because I eavesdrop on them.) This is not torture and I would never torture reeds but I will do what is necessary to rid the world of these terrible reeds. And nobody can stop me because I am the clarinetist and I am above the law.
Someday whenever the war on reeds is over I will let them all loose. I may continue to eavesdrop.
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Author: hans
Date: 2006-01-19 14:38
Like Chris P, I have always kept a few to use as disposable glue spreaders.
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Author: susieray
Date: 2006-01-19 15:02
"Susieray, are you sure Vandoren is the best brand for drawing faces on?"
No, any old dead reeds will do. I don't use Vandorens any more,
so those two were REALLY old. I suppose they would also make
a good substitute for those little wooden spoons that come with
the individual-serving-sized ice creams. ![[rotate]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smiley25.gif)
Actually I am going to take Hank's advice and get the ATG system
one of these days, although I've been doing pretty well just based
on the reed balancing info in Tom Ridenour's book The Educator's
Guide to the Clarinet.....I'd like to see the DVD.
Sue
Post Edited (2006-01-19 15:03)
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Author: GBK
Date: 2006-01-19 16:20
I recently used 2 old reeds as shims underneath a squeeky set of steps.
Since they were Vandoren reeds, I figured they would be right at home ![[wink]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie3.gif) ...GBK
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Author: joannew
Date: 2006-01-19 17:10
>If it survives, then it was actually quite a good reed after all and you should move it to the front of the rotation.
sounds a bit like the medieval test for witches...
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Author: clarispark
Date: 2006-01-19 18:32
My dad takes mine and uses them to mix epoxy. And then of course is the infamous "wall test", or our marching band's rookie award...but then again I march alto sax so the reeds are a little different.
"I look at my clarinet sometimes and I think, I wonder what's going to come out of there tonight? You never know." --Acker Bilk
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Author: johng ★2017
Date: 2006-01-19 20:34
Attachment: chipper1.jpg (56k)
I have a special reed chipper that breaks up the reed into material suitable for composting.
I sold a few on e**y once just for fun.
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Author: bcl1dso
Date: 2006-01-19 20:41
Well....take them out get a good reed knife and use them for practice on adjusting reeds......or just kill them : )
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Author: BobD
Date: 2006-01-19 22:58
They make real good tooth flossers and glue spreaders. Also good for any application where you would usually use a fingernail. I usually split them rather thin and give them as Christmas presents.
Bob Draznik
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Author: Neil
Date: 2006-01-20 00:58
Due to the myriad of potential uses for spent reeds, I try to keep a good supply on hand, strategically placed on bookshelves, TV's, desks, windowsills, etc.
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Author: susieray
Date: 2006-01-20 01:13
Heck, mine are already strategically placed all over the house.....I even find them in the washing machine.
Sue
Post Edited (2006-01-20 01:13)
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Author: carrielj
Date: 2006-01-20 01:13
Attachment: IMG_0253.JPG (42k)
I give them to my Cockatoo for a special treat.
Carrie
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Author: pewd
Date: 2006-01-20 03:34
carrie, great photo
i burn holes in them with a magnifing glass outside in bright sun. doesn't help them any , but makes me feel better
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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Author: Lani
Date: 2006-01-20 04:06
I got to get a cockatoo.
I have enough old reeds to keep a family of 12 happily stocked up with glue applicators, toothpicks and school art projects for years.
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Author: ElBlufer
Date: 2006-01-20 04:37
Wow, it seems that a lot of people here (including me) have anger/stress issues...
My Setup:
R13 Clarinet (Ridenour Lyrique as my backup/marching instrument)
Walter Grabner K11 mouthpiece
Rico Reserve 3.5's
Bonade ligature
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Author: Bassie
Date: 2006-01-20 06:56
By gum, I have a squeeky set of steps I need to repair. What a good idea!
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2006-01-21 12:24
The glue-spreader suggestion is brilliant. I can't believe I never thought of that, since my husband, a book binder, buys acid-free glue two or three gallons at a time. Great idea to use reeds as little shims, too!
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
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Author: Chalumeau Joe
Date: 2006-01-21 19:31
We should seriously consider pooling our junk reeds together and sell them as a lot on a popular auction site:
"50 lbs. of useless crap clarinet reeds. Give your parrot that special treat or make a memorable elementary school project. Levels of mold and fungus may vary. $30 or best offer"
YOU KNOW somebody would bid on it.
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Author: kellyjellibellibean
Date: 2006-01-22 04:17
if you cut off the top half inch you have a reed tool
its helpful for making soft reeds harder and scraping that awful scum that collects on ur reeds
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Author: GBK
Date: 2006-01-22 04:29
kellyjellibellibean wrote:
> and scraping that
> awful scum that collects on ur reeds
Brushing your teeth and washing your hands before playing is always a prudent idea ...GBK
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Author: D Dow
Date: 2006-01-22 20:08
I am sure to discard and throw away all "dead" reeds. That way they are not confused with working "alive" reeds.
David Dow
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Author: moeboy
Date: 2006-01-23 00:00
i just smash the tipps off mine usually, though when i get angry with a piece i will tear the reed into smitherines............ahh.......anger managment for clarinetists
:-)
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Author: Alseg
Date: 2006-01-23 03:38
Does the cockatoo use a double beak embouchure?
Guess he does not need a reed trimmer.
Former creator of CUSTOM CLARINET TUNING BARRELS by DR. ALLAN SEGAL
-Where the Sound Matters Most(tm)-
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2006-01-23 04:17
I'm sure I posted this before in some other thread --- but anyhow, I take old reeds and split or cut them lengthwise in half or thirds, then I glue strips of sandpaper of various grits to the bottoms, and use them as tools to sand the baffles and interiors of mouthpieces when I reface or otherwise modify the mouthpieces.
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Author: Tim P
Date: 2006-01-23 13:47
My wife uses them to place under the flower pots. Keeps the pot up off the table and allows air to circulate. We found that Rico gives the flowers a vibrate look and the Vandoren's a more dark look.
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2006-01-23 13:51
What brand do you recommend to get a more centered flower?
--
Ben
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Author: GBK
Date: 2006-01-23 16:04
[ This thread has reached the end and is closed - GBK ]
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