Here is a neat trick: a folded-over paperclip in the staple of a regulator reed will flatten and quiet it nicely. Some regs like very small staples and this can “shrink” the bore of a overly large staple, allowing you to reuse these reeds.
Sometimes I try this with chanter staples but it usually kills the second octave.
For chanter reeds, try 24 gague copper wire instead of a paper clip.
I’ve seen guitar high e strings folded over in a u as a rush as well
I have a few bits of thin wire in my chanter reed’s staple in order to flatten the second octave.