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 Flat surface for polishing reeds
Author: tww 
Date:   2002-11-23 13:00

I find that polishing the backs of my reeds on a piece of typing paper on a flat surface regularly produces desirable results. This is possible when I'm practicing at home, but in band and orchestra rehearsals, such a flat surface isn't available. Ideally, I would like something I could carry around in my clarinet case for that purpose. I'm sure that a piece of glass would work well, but I was wondering if there's anything I could just pick up at the local Wal-Mart that would work well. None of the mirrors were adequate to do the job and fit in my case.

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 RE: Flat surface for polishing reeds
Author: Matt Carlton 
Date:   2002-11-23 15:11

Actually you can go to your local crafts store and they would probably carry small shaped pieces of glass that people use to make those hanging window ornaments. These work very well and I picked one up for under $1. I got one that's an octagon shape but they do have circles and ovals.

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 RE: Flat surface for polishing reeds
Author: bob gardner 
Date:   2002-11-23 15:14

I have wooden reed case that has a glass plate for carrying your reeds. you may find that this would serve your needs. it could do double duty.

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 RE: Flat surface for polishing reeds
Author: Burt 
Date:   2002-11-23 15:18

Many years ago, I had two flat pieces of glass cut for me at a local glazier. They're 1/4" thick and smoothed on all edges. So they won't break or cut me. One fits in the lozenge box I use to store my reeds, razor blade, etc. The larger one stays at home and is also useful for saxophone reeds.

The glazier was embarrased at having to charge me so much - the minimum price was $1 per piece (likely $5 by now).

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 RE: Flat surface for polishing reeds
Author: ron b 
Date:   2002-11-23 16:46

Most stores like the glazier's have to charge a minimum. Buy as many as you can for that amount and give some to your friends as good will tokens :)

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 RE: Flat surface for polishing reeds
Author: Rick 
Date:   2002-11-23 18:18

Hi:
There is a particular type of glass called Float Glass. It's made by rolling molten glass over molten tin. One of the features of this glass is an extremely smooth surface. It is available in thickness from 2mm up to 19mm thick.

Find a glazier (folks who do commercial windows) and see if they have any scrap Float glass that they would cut to size for you. I do quite a bit of wooodworking and I use a piece of float glass and 6000-10,000 grip sandpaper to sharpen tools on because the tools require a very flat surface to work on.
Best
Rick

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 RE: Flat surface for polishing reeds
Author: Hank 
Date:   2002-11-23 20:17

Hi,

My youngest son installs auto glass and he made me up two such glass pieces (not curved winshields of course) from scrap. He cut the pieces and finished the edges as well. They are small, heavy, and work just great.

I did get a "family" discount :-).

HRL

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 RE: Flat surface for polishing reeds
Author: Bob 
Date:   2002-11-23 22:03

glue some paper on a tongue depressor

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 RE: Flat surface for polishing reeds
Author: Morrigan 
Date:   2002-11-23 22:41

All I do is run the reed over the back of the music on the stand when I need to polish the backs of my reeds. You don't really need to take anything with you!
PS. Play off photocopies. =]

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 RE: Flat surface for polishing reeds
Author: DougR 
Date:   2002-11-24 15:41

I went to Home Depot and had them cut me a couple of pieces of thick medicine-cabinet glass shelving to size. It seems to work fine with 600 grit emery paper.

But the coolest thing is, if you work at an institution that's scrapping their microfiche readers (as I did once), grab the little document glass panel before they cart the machines away: it's optically ground & dead flat, and it has a little handle at one end to hold it with.

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 RE: Flat surface for polishing reeds
Author: L. Omar Henderson 
Date:   2002-11-24 17:07

I used a fine grade of sandstone pad milled to 1/1,000 mm flat with a texture equal to 600-800 grit sandpaper.
The Doctor

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 RE: Flat surface for polishing reeds
Author: Bob 
Date:   2002-11-24 21:25

My impression is that 600 grit or equivalent abrasive paper will remove material while just plain bond paper or equivalent will only smooth the reed but not remove as much material as the abrasive paper. Yes, I realize that all paper is ,to a degree abrasive, but not as much so as "sandpaper". I had the impression that the message originator wasn't intending to remove any cane. Am I wrong?

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