 The Oboe BBoard
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Author: plclemo
Date: 2012-01-13 21:50
My teacher is willing to teach me how to make reeds. What tools do I need? Where do I buy them? What is the initial expense of this effort? Any really good you-tube videos you would recommend? Thanks!
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Author: GoodWinds ★2017
Date: 2012-01-13 22:39
There are beginning reed-making kits available from many of the specialty oboe web sites, two that come to mind are Mark Chudnow and Charles Double Reed, but there are others. Since you are back east you might check the latter, Nora Post. I've found good prices at Miller Marketing but I'm not sure if they offer a 'kit'.
DON'T be too intimidated by this process: if you can learn to knit, you can learn to make reeds. I'm glad your teacher is taking you to this new level!
And I wish you MUCH success in your reed-making.
GoodWinds
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Author: plclemo
Date: 2012-01-14 01:15
Thank YOU. I'll check those sites out. I can crochet and I can knit a very little bit (I sometimes feel that if the knitting needles had hooks on the ends it would sure be a lot easier! Alas, this is not so!) I'm really really good at counted cross stitching. That's my handiwork specialty. Oh and I do a lot of sewing. Our daughter (almost 14) is 5'10.5" tall and she needs hem work done on many of her clothing pieces. I also made all my maternity dresses as I was 37 when pregnant and didn't want to look 21 as all the styles seemed to suggest.
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Author: GoodWinds ★2017
Date: 2012-01-14 02:50
I hope you're also good at sharpening knives, because you'll be doing a lot of that...
GoodWinds
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Author: sylvangale
Date: 2012-01-14 03:29
Basic set for reed making:
http://www.nielsen-woodwinds.com/p-4984-oboe-reed-making-kit-small.aspx
Basic set for adjusting:
http://www.rdgwoodwinds.com/oboe-tool-p-226.html
Buying individually, here's what you need:
Pencil (for the reed)
Ruler
Reed Knife
Plaque (countoured is safer on the reed)
Mandrel (match madrel to staples, needs to fit together, they vary)
staples
cane (gouged, shaped, and folded!)
thread (FF gauge)
beeswax
billot (cut reeds open with razor blade on this)
razor blades
sharpening stone (get same as your teacher)
Optional:
c-clamp (clamp to table rather than tie to random table/chair legs, found at hardware stores)
lighter or nail polish (lighter will seal thread beeswax on finished reed or nail polish will do so as well and will make your knot less likely to unravel)
paper clips (paper clip reeds that are too open and train them closed)
I don't know of any reed making video other than the Weber video:
http://www.charlesmusic.com/cgi-bin/theo?action=product&product_number=16-7-300
The video will not teach you to make reeds though. It's good for reference.
♫ Stephen K.
Post Edited (2012-01-14 03:39)
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Author: WoodwindOz
Date: 2012-01-16 14:34
I bought the reedmaking kit from Charles as it had the option of a Landwell knife with it. I believe Forrests now does the same thing.
The good thing about these kits is that the one I got had some cane a staples. While it wasn't good cane, it gave me a chance to practice tying and basic scraping without destroying expensive cane I had bought.
I worked with my hands a lot before reedmaking as well, Paula, I am a papercrafter. I have used a lot of sharp implements in my time, and it seems to have paid off!
Martin Schuring's ASU reedmaking site is fairly informative. I don't make American scrape reeds, but I wish for a similar resource for short scrape reeds.
And this board has been fantastic for advice for me as a beginning reedmaker, and that doesn't cost you a cent!
Rachel
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Author: oboi
Date: 2012-01-16 16:10
Buy 20 pieces of the cheapest cane you can find because you will likely destroy most of it as you learn how to scrape. Once they actually start to look like real reeds and remotely sound like one, then you can purchase better cane. Don't expect to ween off your teacher's/storebought reeds for quite a while.
I did not buy a kit and got items from a store or two. If your teacher has recommendations on specific brands, then that might be a good place to start as it is quite daunting, plus exactly what you need depends on the tools your teacher uses. When you get a plaque, try both the rounded and pointed to see which one you like (I use both). I find a caliper way more useful than a ruler. Buy a few spools of different-coloured thread. Ask your teacher for a staple recommendation and stick with one until you have a clue the differences between them. Cane at first you will destroy so not extremely important but your teacher will probably tell you what shape to start as you approach "production" stage.
Midwest Musical Imports, Forrests and Weber Reeds are my favorites stores to buy online from.
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Author: DrewSorensenMusic
Date: 2012-01-16 18:31
Well, I'm sorry Plclemo, there's just no cheap way to make good reeds. I think you and your teacher may want to get together and get a list of what you would need. Here's a rough example of a good start:
My favorite suppliers are:
http://www.forrestsmusic.com
Or
http://www.annhodge.com
Between the two, you should have everything you need at your disposal.
Basic Supplies:
2 reed knives, 1 being bevel edged, 1 being double hollow ground (find the cheapest of each. Probably around $40 each)
2 sharpening stones, 1 fine grit, 1 superfine grit (alternatively they sell stones with two or three different grits on different sides) $25 each
Ruler (not one from a pharmacy, but from an oboes supply shop, it needs to be exact) (Forrests sells one up to 150mm for $6 I think)
Flat blue plaque
Razor Blades
Wood cuting block (medium)
Staples (I suggest Stevens #2)
Mandrel (most double reed supply shops sell their own brand, use that one) (I have MCW mandrel, it's fantastic, but it's not the only one that is good)
Thread (FF size)
Easel
cane (shaped and folded) (Annhodge is probably the best for cane. She sells Ghys shaped folded cane for $2.60 a piece, which is ok, I'd get Peiffer Mack or Bannen Narrow X to start. She also sells student cane for $1.30 a piece)
I've probably missed something, but that's a decent list to get started. Reed making is not inexpensive in the least. Also, the Weber book is very good. I'm self taught on making oboe reeds (although I've played single reeds for 18 years now) and was able to get myself started with pretty much all the information found in the Weber book (although it was the last thing I bought to learn, it solidified what I had learned was correct). Good luck.
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Author: Oboe Craig
Date: 2012-01-17 02:24
A good high-intensity light... really important.
I just replaced my 10th or so, and found good choices at Staples.
Get one that allows you to adjust its placement and not impede your hands while working on reeds.
New Tensor I bought has adjustable brightness.... always use brightest for reeds, but it is nice to have the options for other things.
Personally, I've never used bee's wax in 40+ years of reed making, but some plumber's teflon tape is useful to me. And that is cheap.
Weber's reed making manual... it is my favorite and there are some other good ones, too.
Razor blades can be bought in a lot of 100... and they can be resharpened using a cheap fisherman's fillet knife sharpener... a couple $ at a sporting goods store.
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Author: DrewSorensenMusic
Date: 2012-01-17 02:30
I just sharpen my razor blades on my finest sharpening stone. I don't think I"ll buy a new razor blade in 200 years!
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Author: WoodwindOz
Date: 2012-01-17 03:11
Good one, Craig, I forget that a list of tools needs to contain those that aren't so portable, such as a good lamp!
I just bought one at my local Meijer, it was only about $25 but it is a high intensity LED lamp. It has a flexible stem that I can get to seemingly any angle. It doesn't have a brightness adjustment, but for my purposes it is fantastic.
You don't realise how necessary a good lamp is until you actually have one!
I also have a small LED battery powered lamp that has a flexible stem which also forms the base. It isn't as bright as the other one, but I can fold it into my reed making case and set up anywhere!
And if you're anything like me and love funky thread, Forrests has a selection of variegated spools. I like these because while I number my staples, each of my reeds looks slightly different and are easier to differentiate quickly. I am just waiting for my latest batch of cane to arrive so I can try out my new red/yellow/purple thread. I love colour! :P
Post Edited (2012-01-17 03:15)
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Author: mjfoboe
Date: 2012-01-17 12:37
Hi,
You might consider buying a lamp with a magnifying lens in the center.
It really helps to see the reed up close.
I bought a very good lamp made for dentists; however, you can pick up a suitable one at Staples.
Mark
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Author: johnt
Date: 2012-01-18 14:28
Sharpened razor blades are great for shaping cane. I use a fine grit 1200 EZE-LAP diamond stone to straighten out the curls & then refine the blade on a translucent Arky. A few strokes on each side on each stone & Bob's your uncle. Best to use a relatively new blade for clipping miniscule amounts of cane off reed tips, however. I use a goose neck high intensity halogen lamp…probably similar to yours, Craig & Mark (bought mine at Staples also) & Donegan Optical #7 dual lenses mounted in a headband when I shape cane & scrape reeds.
Best,
john
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Author: jhoyla
Date: 2012-01-19 15:54
Ordinary reading glasses are very effective for close-up work, and they are inexpensive.
J.
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Author: oboi
Date: 2012-01-19 21:03
Speaking of thread, I abhor the single-ended thread spools. I've spent hours unknotting/rewinding thread that come out of those things. I use the double-ended ones, but to each their own. I am always buying more colours so I don't confuse my reeds. I just change colours every tie-on, so if I theoretically finish reeds in order, then I have minimal overlap. :-P
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Author: DrewSorensenMusic
Date: 2012-01-20 01:50
My thread is so knotted right now, I'm thinking about throwing it out entirely. It's a single sided spool. I'm pretty sure I got it at forests. Learnt from my mistakes, but I really don't know how to fix that one if it's sold single sided. Guess I'll try other dealers. It really is a bummer.
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