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Re: Tautness of thread

Author: WoodwindOz
Date: 2012-07-28 04:45

I make sure that the thread is tight both from my own hand and from the place it is tied on (i.e. I pull away from the table and pull again with my hand away from the reed). I use a D clamp on my desk and never have issues with being able to pull as tight as possible. If it rotates when you cross over, there is a chance that there isn't enough tension from at least one of the ends of thread (the desk end or the hand end). Before you cross over, the blades should have sealed completely and it should be hard to move them.

I was also taught to tease the folded cane, once you have taken it out of the soak, in the direction of the slip. For a right hander, this means trying to coax the fold so that the back blade tends towards the left of the front blade. This means that as you wind the thread, the blades slip back to being perfectly matched up, rather than warping around with the pressure.

If you have noticed the problem with more rounded staples, most can be flattened slightly. If you have repeat offenders (as I did the other day - finally figured out after 3 pieces of cane that the non-sealing wasn't the cane's fault!) put it on your mandrel and use flat nose pliers to gently flatten the opening into more of an oval shape. If no cane will seal on it, you have nothing to lose by trying to remedy the situation!

I was shocked at just how tight the thread had to be when I first started tying. My leaky reeds are about one in 20ish now, so I guess I'm finally on the right track, but those first (lots of) reeds were frustrating! I remember turning up to a lesson with five blanks and being told to retie four of them! I wish you the best of luck, I know how frustrating it can be!

Rachel

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