Author: oboedrew
Date: 2008-07-31 00:39
Don't despair, claire70. Tying a good blank is, in my experience, one of the two most difficult parts of reedmaking (the other being the final tip adjustments). First tidbit of advice: don't rush anything. Many beginning reedmakers mistakenly feel that tying up a blank is a sort of elementary step: something they should "just get" very quickly, so that they can move on to the real reedmaking. Not so fast! Tying up a good blank is a complicated task, and many oboists' efforts at the later stages of reedmaking are undermined because they rushed through this crucial first step. So take your time, remain calm and collected, and measure EVERYTHING once, twice, even a dozen times, just to be certain.
Now, we'll need some more specific information about your tools, supplies, and methods in order to give any potentially accurate diagnoses.
What kind of cane are you using?
What is the gouge?
What is the shape?
What brand of staple?
What length of staple?
How close to the end of the staple are you trying to get the thread?
How far from the end of the staple does your first wrap begin?
What overall length are you aiming for (from one end of the finished blank to the other)?
Do you wax the thread before or after tying the blank?
Are you right-handed or left-handed?
Which hand holds the mandrel/staple when you're tying a blank, and which hand holds the spool of thread?
Cheers,
Drew
www.oboedrew.com
Post Edited (2008-07-31 02:29)
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