Lately most reeds I make have large gaps on sides of the heads. Tips seal and down toward the staple are ok, just gaping openings on the sides.
I’ve tried seating in different areas, thinning the tails, shaving bark, wetting, etc.
Could this be indicative of excessively hard cane? Winding too tight? Any thoughts?
Thanks!
–kb
How flat is the slip before you start any gouging? If you’ve got much of a pitch to the slip, meaning curvature up or down when looking at it from one of the narrow ends, it’s not ideal. Try to keep it as flat as possible when you split it out of the tube.
Prior to gouging I choose pieces that have least amount of curveture (viewed from bark side). After gouging and sanding, I set it on an a piece of glass to check flatness.
After splitting the slip and bringing together prior to tying, the halves fit very nicely together.
Also, the staple fits nicely into the tails prior to tying. By all accounts everything looks ok.
I usually wind up supergluing the sides shut and actually can still make a very playable reed. Many times, however, the reed will collapse along the edge, presumably due to the stress I’ve put on concentrated at the tip corners and aggrevated by gluing.
Thanks for the help! --kb
You may be tying the reed too far up the blades. Prior to actually tying the head on, do a practice tying. Bind the reed head up to the point where the shoulders come together completely, mark that point, then re-tie the reed (for real this time) up to the mark you just made and no further. See if this doesn’t work for you. All the best!
I’m curious..are you tails gouged at all? If not, try this. Because, this could a remedy a most certain enlarged gaping hole immediately following the binding at the sides.
I usually gouge 1/2 thickness from the tails compared to the head to ensure a good comfortable seating for the staple, therefore making it easier to curve around it. Also, don’t quote me on this, but D.Quinn’s book on reedmaker’s despair - Holy Bible on reedmaking/repair/troubleshooting, indicates not wrapping 3mm above the staple…to follow Josephs’ lead on this thread.
Hope this helps..
upiper71
Thanks for the replies, gents.
You may be tying the reed too far up the blades.
That’s my best guess. I have moved up and down a bit without much response as far as gap goes. I hate to go too far down and affect tuning that works. But what have I got to lose?
I’m curious..are you tails gouged at all?
Yes, quite thin actually from the inside. I also remove bark and sand edges from the outside.
…indicates not wrapping 3mm above the staple.indicates not wrapping 3mm above the staple.
Let’s see, 3mm = .1181in., I wrap at about .125in which is 3.2mm. But, that is an interesting point. I am using the following measurements for reed seating events: shoulders start at 26.65mm from tail, tie line is at 25.4mm from tail and staple inserted to 22.2mm from tail. Now the funny thing is that the where the shoulders come to the full width of the reed head seals quite well all the time, as do the corners where the lips come together. It’s the half out of the middle sides of the reed head which opens up.
Thanks again for the help!
–kb
I very rarely get the sides to seal fully when binding, but this doesn’t result in crap reeds in the end.
I have found that if you leave the reed head tied for a day after binding the tails, the gap is lessened. When you scrape/sand the head, you will find that the sides close and putting on a bridle will add to the closing.
If you find that there is still a leak after completing the reed, just paint a bit of nail varnish on the sides or use some beeswax.
All the best.
Thanks, Goldy -
That’s a good bit of advice - let he reed relax a little in constrained state. I will try that.
Being hasty, I have been gluing down with Super Glue and still sometime getting some decent playing reeds.
–kb
While I understand the need to experiment/problem solve etc… personally, I would stray away from getting in the habit of using super glue (or any glue for that matter), if only for the reason that it may make taking the reed apart a dangerous and possibly fatal task… for the reed that is.
Keep plugging away at making them. Eventually, cranking out good reeds will become second nature. 
G’luck!
Well, that one sealed up - did two things and not sure which made the difference: lowered the staple another 1/8 in. and let it sit. As Goldy stated, it was a very small gap and a the bridle finished the job!
Now, if I can get them to play a little softer without busting my left elbow and when I further scrape to relieve this not to sink back D…
–kb