Author: Hotboy
Date: 2006-02-16 17:57
I understand how frustrating it can be...there have been several good comments about soaking and feathering the cane prior to tying, but here's one technique that worked for me: I ran the tap water until it was as hot as it could go, then put the cane in that temperature water. When the cane had sunk all the way to the bottom, it was ready to tie.
Regarding gaps that leak, you might find the following helpful.
You have to understand the the REASON(S) for tying your reeds at a certain length, and you must EXPERIMENT until it works for you, no matter how many instruction books you read.
Also, take note that different manufacturers make staples with different shapes to them...that is, the opening at the blowing end can be larger or smaller than other manufacturers, and also a different shape (more oval vs. more elliptical). The Prestini staple is different from the Loree staple, which is different from the MCW and RDG, etc. You should really have a mandrel that is made by the same firm that makes the staples for best fit.
The KEY issue in avoiding gaps is how the width of the cane matches up with the end of the staple. The shorter you tie the cane on, the more cane there is to wrap around the staple at that crucial point: the end. Therefore, if you are still getting a gap on both sides, one or more of the following three things is true:
1) The cane's shape is too narrow to be tied at that length on that staple. SOLUTION: tie it shorter, buy wider shaped cane, or buy smaller opening staple.
2) You have not wrapped the thread all the way to the end of the staple. SOLUTION: after you have made your initial 3-6 wraps, roll the mandrel toward you until the thread is wrapped up to the very edge of the staple.
For optimum sealing, I have found that the top-most wrap should straddle the end of the staple, that is, the top-most wrap should be "half on" the staple and "half off" the staple. Note that if you wrap the thread too far, you will squeeze and crack the cane because there is no metal to support the pressure of the wrapped thread.
You didn't mention whether you do this, but I have found that making a pencil mark on the cane to indicate the end of the staple is a tremendous aid in making sure you wrap the thread to the EXACT proper location.
3) The staples you bought have a relatively larger opening. This is neither good nor bad, but different-sized openings make your reeds feel, sound, and play diferently. SOLUTION: buy staples that have a smaller opening from a different manufacturer.
I would advise, at first, keeping your staples the same and finding the shape of cane that works with that staple.
Dane
Bay Area, California
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