CONFESSION: I just went and relaced the tube staple in my favorite reed with a rolled copper staple that has been sitting around for years. I promised myelf that I would never screw around with reeds again, esp good ones, but since I wasn’t playing this reed much this summer, because the upper G and A were going slightly flat (extra pressure needed to bring them up–the rest of the notes were fine), I decided to experiment.
Not only did the rolled copper staple correct the upper G and A, but I notice that I was in tune with all the regulator notes like never before, and steady. The reed still sounds like the good old reed it was, so the good sound is obviously in the cane. I had to try tying it a couple of times to get the right elevation in the lips. Thanks Ted…I’ll blame you for the rolled staple idea…discussing the virtues of “tapered” staples, and AlanB for the encouragement to not be afraid to mess with the reeds a little…thanks Alan. Good advice.
This reed just became a little more valuable. But damn! I forgot to get measurements on the staple.
This idea I had of putting the just rolled staple (before flattening) into the hand drill and filing the reed seat end down while spinning the staple works great, too. I’m sanding it a bit, too. A million times slicker looking. Now how about filing the flattened part. Maybe a belt sander?
Brad Angus told me Roy Rogers Jr. of Philadelphia used to make reeds with power tools. BRRRTTTTT! Goes the reed head. Pretty horrific results, as you’d imagine.
Rietmeister,
While seated, I lay my 12" mill bastard file on top of my thigh. Holding the narrow end of the staple with my right thumb and index finger, I set the wide end on the file at a 30 to 45 degree or whatever angle to the file. Pressing my left thumb and index finger pinched together on the file, I grip the end of the staple onto the file between them. I now spin the staple with the right hand a few turns and it is done. A scrap of sandpaper in the left pincher will finish it off…all in less time than it took you to chuck up your work! Not Good to use a power tool for a hand tool job. Bad boy
Ted…
The drill’s always clamped in the vise from the last reed I wound up anyway. It’s a hand drill, no 40000 RPM stuff here, unless I drink some 8 shot espressos first -
I’ve never tried the power tool approach myself, although it sounds like a fun way to destroy bad reeds. Good and cathartic. Maybe if I put the reed head in the drill and gave her a few twists…
