Author: jhoyla
Date: 2014-12-02 17:27
Mike,
I use a vernier caliper. I measure through the staple using the stem onto a firm surface, and clamp the caliper. I now have a perfect gauge of the end of the staple that I can pick up and use while wrapping. If the wraps don't reach the jaws, I'm still short of the end of the staple.
There is a lot you need to pay attention to, while wrapping.
o The oval of the staple should be in-line with the eventual reed opening
o The wraps must stop just before the end of the staple
o The blades must be perfectly in-line with the staple, not angled to the right or left
o The blades must seal shut, but not be excessively overlapped
o The thread must deform the curve of the blades to exactly conform to the staple, but not be so tight that it breaks the bark
o The thread must be tidily wrapped so that no spaces appear between the wraps
o The knot at the end must be firm and secure, and not come undone
I cut a 3mm ring of drinking straw and use it to close the shaped piece of cane before I start. With a wedge blade I roughly cut off the ears, since they get in the way of sighting down the reed for straightness.
I use a simple jig (a ruler projecting from under the surface of my work-desk) to insert the staple to the correct tie-on length (usually 73 mm). I wriggle the staple into the cane and "feel" the center line, making sure that all the alignments are correct. Only then do I begin wrapping, loosely, three loops with space between the loops.
I roll the staple up and down the thread, slowly adding tension as I go so that the curve and tension is gradually applied. I roll towards me to let the wraps travel up towards the tip of the staple, and back towards the anchor to move closer to the base. In this manner I can also verify that both sides are closing equally, and that both sides are perfectly closed as I roll the thread towards the tip of the staple. If I rotate the mandrel through 90 degrees I can hold it in the same hand as my thread-reel, allowing me to pick up and use my pre-set caliper.
And then I crossover and wind down. Until till now my tension has increased from mp, through mf and to f. Now, winding down the staple I increase tension to ff, the tension being mainly between my two hands - the reel and the mandrel. I tie off at the bottom and snip the ends. Voila!
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