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Re: Tying Reeds

Author: GoodWinds ★2017
Date: 2011-05-10 03:15

OK, this'll date me, for sure. My very old-fashioned steps for tying nice-sounding, well-sealing reeds are as follows:

-- soak the shaped cane (doesn't really matter what shape!) in a bowl (use room-temperature water) until it sinks to the bottom, no longer
-- trim the bottom 1/4-1/3 inch of the shaped cane
-- put your staple (doesn't matter what size or length! as long as it fits) snugly on the mandrel
-- apply beeswax (or not) to the nylon thread, tied to a door handle or leg of a heavy piece of furniture
-- place the shaped cane to the 1/2 point of the metal bit of the staple ('halfway down')
-- tie 3-4 turns of the top, checking placement frequently and making sure you don't go past the staple end EVER; if it doesn't seal, jiggle it slightly further onto the staple, checking frequently for placement (symmetry)
-- then crossover and complete the wrap to the cork
-- tie two knots, using a lot of tension and pulling the knot into the wrap slightly
-- apply some Duco cement, super-glue gel, or similar sealant to the knots
-- thin the tip WITHOUT cutting off the end and place in box for future use

I rarely use goldbeater's skin or other sealant; about 1 out of 10 reeds will either leak or need to have the blades slipped slightly. Sometimes I tie "right-handed", sometimes "left handed" because (like some of yous) I have numbness and grip problems; I just go with the more comfortable hand position of the moment.

Don't laugh now, experts... they still work for me! And as soon as they don't, you can bet I'll be on the board asking for help.

mary

GoodWinds

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