Author: vboboe
Date: 2008-08-01 17:31
piece of drinking straw as cane guide, eh? now that's a really neat idea
... great little gadget in demo on youtube, hm ... well, until a beginner can actually wrap with experienced confidence methinks fumbs and thingers aren't quite dexterous enough to use it, but it sure looks like a fantastic time-saver after that, and it's certainly 'esthetically' nicer to start the wrap at 47, one day i might get there with seasoned confidence
couldn't quite see how he knotted off using the mandrel to finish tightening the knot, i notice the underneath thread is folded up through the wrapped thread, although i'd prefer to take the thread all the way down to the cork ... which reminded me of ... (memory snippet follows)
when i first did reeds 'way back then, we made a loop and placed it down one side of the cane sides, the loop end hanging down to bottom of cork and the tail end hanging off towards the fold end of the cane; size of the loop large enough to pass thread bobbin through easily after wrapping down to bottom of tube
to start the first wrap (at 47) had to pass the bobbin under the section of this loop that pointed down to the cork (rather than section of thread pointing up to the fold) and 'hitch' it exactly at 47 (top of tube) -- this had to be done back to front (opposite direction of wrapping) to anchor it when going over and away to wrap as usual down to end of exposed tube
then pass bobbin through the loop section to begin the finishing 'knot'
make a hitch with the thread tail (hanging towards fold end) above that knobby bit on French-style mandrel, pull tight (knob holds it in place) and hold loose end of thread secure around mandrel knob with thumb & forefinger, really give a heave-ho on the mandrel to pull the loop all the way up right under the wrap, preferably up to the juncture of cane and tube, snip ends
this method, no tied knot needed, and unravelling? what's that?!
even as a youngster i really found this method an enormous time-wasting cussable hassle just to get the first wraps started and secured exactly at the mark for end of tube (sometimes in desperation i filed a little notch in the sides of cane at 47, just to catch & hold the thread)
pulling the thread under a tight wrap without letting it loosen up isn't a piece of cake either
... and now my fingers are older it's even more of a hassle ... (end of memory snippet) ... so i like the easier knotted method now
Hey, while on youtube checking that out that cane-guide gadget just now there's an amazing comedy demo film en espagnol about cutting a playable reed, it starts out seemingly real enough until you first see the knife and after that it's a jaw-dropper -- what a great yuk-yuk (with considerable amazement) for *advanced* reed-makers -- beginners, do not attempt actually doing any of this !
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