 The Oboe BBoard
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Author: DrewSorensenMusic
Date: 2012-04-17 10:26
Hi All,
So I just read "Oboe: A Reed Blown in the Wind" by Marion Whittow. A Great book, lots of adult tips for performance. Not much on reedmaking per say, but tips on how to treat reeds when made. Very English, copyright in 1991, although I could have sworn that it was written in the 70s (not that I was around at that time).
Anyhow, she mention's using Teflon tape as a substitue for Goldbeater's Skin, so I went down to the hardware store and picked up a 1/2 inch roll. I think it works great, but I've never used Goldbeater's Skin. Anyone know of any negatives of using teflon?
Drew S.
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Author: RobinDesHautbois
Date: 2012-04-17 10:59
I use "Stretch and Seal", clear cellophane, cut into rings with an Olfa knife.
There are 3 purposes for using these:
1. if you wire the reed, it helps keep the twist from cutting your lip!!!!
2. it helps seal the reed
3. if the reed is undecided if it wants to slip or not, fishkin (gold-beaters-skin), teflon or cellophane will allow you to make up its mind
The advantages of synthetic is that they resist tearing better, so you can pull harder. Some might view this as a bad crutch.
In my experience, reeds that need these for sealing are doomed: they should seal perfectly just with the binding. But there are some reeds that play really well save for a minor glitch.
Same thing for point 3.
Robin Tropper
M.A.Sc., B.Mus., B.Ed.
http://RobinDesHautbois.blogspot.ca/music
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Author: jhoyla
Date: 2012-04-17 11:22
I do the same as robin - I cut a roll of 1.2 - 1.3 cm wide saran-wrap (cling-film) from a standard kitchen roll of the same. If it comes loose (usually due to soaking the reed) I pull it off and reapply a fresh piece from my roll.
Regarding sealing, a couple of points.
1. Often, a reed will not seal perfectly at first, but as you scrape it and play it in the seal becomes better and better, usually to the point where the wrap is no longer needed.
2. Trying to adjust a reed that does NOT seal is doomed to failure from the start. Make it seal with one or two turns of wrap, and THEN adjust it, as needed.
J.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2012-04-17 12:57
I keep a spool of PTFE tape on hand as it's much easier to use than goldbeater's skin and can be replaced easily enough if need be. Cling film usually comes adrift when it gets wet, but PTFE tape stays put and absorbs water.
Reeds that aren't airtight as they haven't had the binding sealed with a coating of varnish can quickly be made leak free when wrapped in PTFE tape. I usually wrap my reeds with it around the base of the reed from the wire downwards (covering the wire as well), totally covering the binding.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
Independent Woodwind Repairer
Single and Double Reed Specialist
Oboes, Clarinets and Saxes
NOT A MEMBER OF N.A.M.I.R.
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: WoodwindOz
Date: 2012-04-17 16:01
I was using plastic wrap (saran wrap) but I got sick of it unwrapping during soaking. I'm now using plumbers tape (is that PTFE tape?) which I think is also known as thread tape.
It doesn't come off during soaking, you don't need much, therefore it doesn't restrict the reed's vibrations and I even use it on the corks of the staples that are a little loose. It's easily transportable and cheap. My only complaint is that it is not clear, but them's the trade-offs!
Rachel
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Author: GoodWinds ★2017
Date: 2012-04-17 16:22
perhaps YOU could patent a clear or colour version and get rich??
GoodWinds
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2012-04-17 16:28
It soon goes clear when it's been soaking, but turns opaque again as it dries out.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
Independent Woodwind Repairer
Single and Double Reed Specialist
Oboes, Clarinets and Saxes
NOT A MEMBER OF N.A.M.I.R.
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: DrewSorensenMusic
Date: 2012-04-17 16:36
I do believe the teflon tape get's better each time you soak it. At least, that's what I find in my limited experience. It seems to conform to the reed seemlessly.
Drew S.
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Author: oboi
Date: 2012-04-17 18:07
I use Teflon tape and it even works for major leak problems (high-up). Doesn't unravel with water like Goldbeater's. I have sparingly used Parafilm, although it is very sticky so not so good if you need to seal higher up, but it's great for right above the thread or even the thread itself for some bad wraps. I use that instead of nail varnish <gag>.
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Author: Oboe Craig
Date: 2012-04-17 20:49
Its teflon tape for me here out.
And aside from fixing air leaks I find it useful in a couple other ways.
Since I overlap my American scrape reeds, It helps hold the overlap where I want it. And if I need to increase it or reduce it, it helps hold that, too.
The other thing it does for me is hold my english horn reed wire in the exact place I want it, which otherwise tends to slip once the reed dries and shrinks a little.
Since I tend to tie up 150 blanks a couple times a year, they can also dry to the point of leaking a little once I get ready to make a reed out of them. The teflon fixes that day 1 -3 problem, and about %80 of the time can then be removed and the reed continues to seal well w/o the tape. (It is possible some tape reside is doing something for me, but if so, it is so small or embedded into the reed blades that I cannot detect it.
I keep a roll in my carry around case with other provisions for the unexpected, and I'd say about 1/4 to 1/3 of my performance-worthy reeds retain the tape for the duration of reed life.
It is great stuff.
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Author: JRC
Date: 2012-04-17 22:19
Have any one use 3/4" wide ones? I started using it recently. Very convenient indeed.
Post Edited (2012-04-17 22:19)
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Author: oboemoboe
Date: 2012-05-01 13:37
Yes! I HATE (strong word for strong feelings!) goldbeater's skin, but I must admit I love Teflon tape. I use it on my wired english horn reeds to prevent them from cutting my lip.
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Author: DrewSorensenMusic
Date: 2012-05-01 14:43
Has anyone used teflon tape to seal english horn reeds to the bocal? Maybe instead of using the shrink wrap? I actually don't play english horn right now, but looking into the future.
Drew S.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2012-05-01 16:13
I have tried it, but don't normally use it.
If the staple and crook tapers match well, there shouldn't be much need to seal it with PTFE tape, but it's a good idea if the staples are a bit loose on the crook.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
Independent Woodwind Repairer
Single and Double Reed Specialist
Oboes, Clarinets and Saxes
NOT A MEMBER OF N.A.M.I.R.
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: GoodWinds ★2017
Date: 2012-05-01 16:58
I think the tape would 'wad up' terribly and cause more problems than good;
BUT if you are not removing the bocal during a performance, it might work.
I don't use shrink tubing on any of my EH reeds, by the way. Haven't found a need for that.
GoodWinds
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Author: Old Oboe
Date: 2012-05-01 17:40
I use just one wind of teflon tape on my EH bocal. It doesn't wad up but will wear off. It works well for me as an amateur who doesn't play EH that often.
Linda
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Author: JRC
Date: 2012-05-01 18:07
Attachment: P1000365.JPG (919k)
Teflon tale on EH reed on bocal works good but you will have to do it again every time you take out the reed to resoak. Pain....
Small piece of Tygon tubingat the end of the reed tube works better. Much better.
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Author: DrewSorensenMusic
Date: 2012-05-01 18:26
Man JRC,
you completely read my mind on a picture of the tubing.
Am I correct in assuming that you don't need to shrink the tubing onto the bocal?
Drew S.
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Author: JRC
Date: 2012-05-01 19:48
I take out reed from the bocal a lot. It is inconvenient for me to shrink wrap or taping the reed on to the bocal. A piece of Tygon tubing gives me air tight seal between bocal and the reed tubing. I sometimes apply a little cork grease on the bocal where it meets the tygon tubing to make sure of the seal. Usually not...
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Author: DrewSorensenMusic
Date: 2012-05-01 20:03
Ok,
When you said Tygon tubing, I thought that was the heat shrink tubing. I googled it, and now know what you're talking about. It looks better than heat shrink, cause I'm assuming it could be reused, as opposed to heat shrink tubing.
Drew S.
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Author: jhoyla
Date: 2012-05-03 19:14
There is a technique that Chris mentioned (I think) called "keying", that is used by trumpeters. They have an issue with mouthpieces - you don't want them to shift! To prevent this, they always insert the mouthpiece with a gentle twist in one direction, and remove it with a gentle twist in the other direction. Pretty soon the micro-scratches on the mouthpiece and on the trumpet get "keyed" together, and the mouthpiece doesn't slip any more.
Since I read this I have been using this technique with the EH, and hey presto! my reeds don't fall off any more. Like magic.
J.
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Author: mschmidt
Date: 2012-05-06 15:41
I use teflon tape on my EH bocal. I have to replace it maybe every week or so if I'm playing every day. I think those who say "you'd have to replace it every time" may have the wrong idea about how it is used--it is simply wrapped onto the bocal before the reed is placed on the bocal. Teflon "flows" to fill gaps, and the result is a more contact surface area between reed and bocal. So even though PTFE is more "slippery" than metal, the increased contact area actually makes up for the slipperiness and holds the reed on just fine.
Mike
Still an Amateur, but not really middle-aged anymore
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Author: Geekygeek
Date: 2012-05-12 14:50
There is this thing called the "Leak Geek" and Kerry sells them. http://bit.ly/Leakgeek You put it up to a light bulb, some of the stuff melts onto it then you hold your reed to the light bulb to get the stuff on your reed. I assume it's made out of wax, I occasionally see it when he sends me reeds. They're clear little blobs of wax on the reed, I guess you could also use candle wax but I don't know how that will work.
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Author: oboeidaho
Date: 2012-05-31 16:08
I also HATE goldbeaters skin, nasty stuff. I do have the teflon stuff and use it occasionally - but mostly I (also) HATE reeds that leak! Even my EH reeds I just tie on so they actually seal, I refuse to use wire (which I also HATE - I seem to hate everything in this post!) So I guess I'd say use the teflon if necessary to get you through, but then go make a better reed that doesn't leak.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2012-06-01 14:17
The problem facing Leak Geek is the phasing out of the standard filament light bulbs in favour of low energy ones which don't give off nearly as much heat, so another source of safe heat will need to be used.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
Independent Woodwind Repairer
Single and Double Reed Specialist
Oboes, Clarinets and Saxes
NOT A MEMBER OF N.A.M.I.R.
The opinions I express are my own.
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