 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: donald
Date: 2004-07-07 02:01
kia ora
some time ago there was a post regarding the "Vandoren resurfacer and reed wand" (also, less ridiculously, called the "adjusting stick").
i commented that mine had proven to be a very useful tool, but had rolled off a coffee table and broken. i lamented the cost of replacing the "reed wand", and that i couldn't just buy the "reed wand" on its own.
it was suggested that i make one..... this i rejected as too time consuming.
but then thought that when i had some time i'd see if it was possible
......after much messing around on the phone, and visiting two glass places, i was able to source "5mm diameter glass rod" in auckland (only in 1.5m quantity, way more than i need). A glass expert guy has now shaped 10cm into a reasonable replica of the Vandoren tool, and sand blasted it at the roughest level possible (in their workshop).
what i now have is a DIY reed wand, that isn't as good as the real thing. Even blasting it with their coarsest sand they can't get it abraisive enough. what they call 400 grit in sand blasting language translates to about 1600 grit in sandpaper language.
all in all it only cost about $30 NZ (15us$) but has managed to take up a fair bit of time and energy.
oh well, don't say i didn't try
anybody want some glass rod? i've got 1.4 metres of it.....
donald
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Author: bill28099
Date: 2004-07-07 04:21
Maybe you've wasted some time but look at what you've learned in the process. It's sort of like my foray into making cork pads for an old Conn bass.
Never knew there were so many kinds of cork and that you could actually sand the stuff nice and smooth. Oh well, my bass still won't play above high C so guess my experiment was a bust too.
BTW did you try to use hydrofluoric acid to etch the glass?
A great teacher gives you answers to questions
you don't even know you should ask.
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Author: LeWhite
Date: 2004-07-07 05:46
At least you learned something, well done for trying!
So, if they couldn't get the rod to be abrasive enough, how does Vandoren do it?
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Author: saxlite
Date: 2004-07-07 05:47
bill28099 wrote:
>. > BTW did you try to use hydrofluoric acid to etch the glass?
>
Re: suggestion to use hydroflouric acid to etch the glass: DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!! HF is one of the most deadly and dangerous chemicals you could ever encounter. This knowledge comes from my years of experience in the semiconductor industry. A single drop hitting your skin will VERY rapidly burn right down to the bone! Handling HF requires very special training and equipment. REPEAT-- don't go near this stuff!!!!
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Author: BobD
Date: 2004-07-07 12:57
....about the surplus glass rod....perhaps you could take up conducting....
about the roughness....glass is silica and so is sand. Perhaps your shop didn't have the correct type of abrasive media or it wasn't fresh. Over and above the grade of sand is the abrasiveness of it which is partially a function of how much it has already been used. Congratulations to you on your spirit.....
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Author: Alseg
Date: 2004-07-07 17:46
Go to a woodworker retail store -or online such as Rocklers.com--
there are sharpening rods you can try....microdiamond on steel rod.
these would do well.
also, they sell self-stick sandpaper in rolls for use on profile sanders.
wrap them on a round pencil or stick and see how they work.
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Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2004-07-07 21:09
Some excellent alternative ideas. I used to use the ceramic rods used as knife sharpening "steels" and they worked very nicely. They are however about as fragile as a glass rod but have the abrasiveness suited to fine finishing reeds. Recently I acquired one of Tom Ridenour's ATG systems and have had fantastic succes with it. It too requires a little practice but Tom's video and book are very thorough. The finishing materials are also readily replaceable. I normally do not have the time to work on my reeds with my myriad of ongoing projects, but with prices bumping $20.00 a box I decided to make the time to get more playable reeds.
The Doctor
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Author: donald
Date: 2004-07-07 22:59
currently on tour with NZ opera, so i have lots of time for messing around with reeds (just as well, because all my good ones are on their last legs).
i wanted this tool as i had found it to be very good for working at the mid/tip of the reed. i still use my knife for the back end.
i'll just buy another kit from Vandoren.
the point was, Vandoren didn't do such a bad job in the first place, except for the fact that the wand/stick breaks fairly easily (unlike a knife or reed rush)
keep playing the good tunes
donald
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Author: kdennyclarinet
Date: 2004-07-07 23:23
You would think that Vandoren would allow you to purchase just the replacement wand... maybe enough people will break theirs that they will just have to. We can always hope...
K. Denny
BME, MM, DMA
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Author: beejay
Date: 2004-07-08 17:29
I really like the Vandoren stick, It has more than paid for itself in rescued reeds and does a much more precise job than a reed knife. Here's a tip: use the case of a glass thermometer to protect it. I jam mine into the lid with some Blue Tack putty, so that it cannot roll off a surface.
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