Author: JMarzluf
Date: 2013-09-28 05:06
A single-radius machine, such as your Ross, will not give you the option of adjusting the center-to-side thickness ratio, unless you have Dan set it up with a different (i.e. smaller radius for thicker sides) blade and guide. If your machine has produced a decent side thickness before, than it should again. Perhaps the blade is not correctly centered in its "cradle," and is taking cane unevenly (favoring one side of the "spine"). If you gouge all the way down (until the roller hits the rail) and then flip the cane, you should get very little -- if any -- shavings on a "reverse" pass. If you have to make more than one pass to clean up the reverse side of the cane, then something's wrong. Either the blade is not centered, or the bed is not properly aligned with the rest of the machine. Either problem is relatively easy to fix. Email me if you need help.
Generally speaking, thicker sides will produce a larger opening. Too small an opening may actually try to "invert" when the shaped cane is tied to the staple, and may be the cause of your loose sides issue. Too thin will also raise the pitch and reduce flexibility (we need at least a little, to play in tune in more than one key!). Too thick is a problem, too, as the pitch will go down significantly and the reed will be harder to control. Scraping the back may seem like a logical solution to a too-open reed, but it will only take the pitch down further, and wreck your power and stability. It really has to be just right.
I prefer a double-radius machine, personally. It's a bit more of a headache to maintain, but it gives you the option of changing the gouge to accommodate different shapes, cane densities and diameters, oboes' general pitch tendencies, weather conditions, you name it. Still, the Ross machine you have should give you good consistent results, once you find the perfect cane source, shape, etc. to match it.
Keep us updated!
Jonathan
http://www.marzlufreeds.com/
Post Edited (2013-09-28 05:10)
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