So You Wanna Make Reeds?

Reed Making Equipment Purchase List I have included links to a lot of the items even if they are things that you should purchase at the hardware store or find at home rather than a specialty double reed supplier. Ive listed links to some of my favorite suppliers, but you may want to shop around a little. Its a big list. First and foremost, everyone needs a good knife, a sharpening stone, a cutting block, and a plaque (guitar picks for the bassoonists). Those are the four things you must have to adjust your own reeds. Bassoonists also must own a pair of piers for adjusting wires. The initial cost of equipment for reed making can feel like a lot, but making your own reeds will save you a lot of money in the long-run and you will be much happier with the control you have over the reeds you are playing on since you will be able to tailor them to what you need for your set-up. Double Reed Supplier Websites to Check:
Miller Marketing (http://www.millermarketingco.com) Edmund Nielsen (http://www.nielsen-woodwinds.com) Charles Double Reeds (http://www.charlesmusic.com)

Forrests Music (http://www.forrestsmusic.com/)

Ann Hodge Double Reed Supplies (http://www.olg.com/hodge) Woodwind Brasswind(http://www.wwandbw.com) Fred Weiner (http://www.weinermusic.com) International Music Suppliers (http://www.intlmusicalsuppliers.com) Midwest Musical Imports (http://www.mmimports.com) Mark Chudnow Woodwinds (http://MCWOBOE.COM) Oboe Cane and Reeds (http://www.stuart-dunkel.com/ocr/index.htm) Stellar Oboe Products (http://www.oboe.net)

Bassoon Students: 1. Good Knife. Hands-down, my favorite knife is the Wedge Knife from Edmund Nielsen (Wedge-type razor, double hollow ground). I like the large handle. http://www.nielsen-woodwinds.com/p-5052-knife-wedge.aspx ($38.00) 2. Sharpening Stone (fine grit). There are a variety of sharpening stones available that all work well. My favorite is the ceramic sharpening stone because it does not require any oiling. http://www.nielsen-woodwinds.com/p-5053-sharpeningstone-ceramic.aspx ($48.95) 3. A crappy knife for rough work (a reed knife that is worn out, or one thats a style you bought but dont really like. It needs to be sharp, but you want to save your best knife for the fine work.) 4. Cutting Block (get the biggest one you can afford). http://www.nielsenwoodwinds.com/p-4933-blockbillot.aspx 5. Ruler (Metric. We will measure things in centimeters)

6. Needle nose pliers (grab a pair from home or your local hardware store) 7. Small end nippers if your pliers dont cut wire 8. Xacto knife with #11 bladehttp://www.amazon.com/X-ACTO-BLADES-X811BLADE-HOLDER/dp/B0047L3ORY 9. Large plastic guitar picks to use as your plaque (make friends with some guitarists and bum a few off of them). 10. Ignition filesor metal nail files (these are small fine files you can find at an auto supply store. Any small files will work.)http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00994107000P?prdNo=21 11. Mandrels (forming and holding mandrels. If you only buy one, buy the forming mandrel)http://www.musiciansfriend.com/woodwinds/fox-bassoon-mandrel 12. 22 gauge brass wire (This needs to be special ordered. You are unlikely to find this at the hardware store.)http://www.nielsen-woodwinds.com/p-4864-wirebassoon.aspx( You can get a whole pound for just $19.95, which will last you for years to come http://www.rjleahy.com/store/wire/bwi.htm ) 13. Thread (nylon thread from a double reed supplier is good. Cotton tatting thread from Walmarts yarn section is fine as well).http://www.nielsenwoodwinds.com/p-5123-thread.aspx http://www.millermarketingco.com/productpages/thread/thread.htm 14. Clear nail polish 15. Duco cement (it is a type of glue. It comes in a green tube. You might be able to find it at the hardware store or a hobby store. Miller Marketing also carries it): http://www.millermarketingco.com/productpages/reedmaking/reedmaking.htm#D uco%20Cement 16. Wet-dry sand paper. (400 and/or 600 grit). 17. Sanding Sticks (not necessary, but I LOVE these and use mine all the time). http://toolmonger.com/2008/03/06/stick-to-thedetails/http://www.woodcraft.com/Family/2000274/Sanding-Stick-Kits.aspx 18. Easel (get someone in the studio to go to the hardware store and buy a 1 diameter wooden dowel, and saw off aprox. 7 sections for each person. You will mark this so that you can lay cane on it and mark the exact center for folding, score the cane, etc.) 19. Cane. If you dont have access to a shaper and profiling machine, you need shaped/profiled cane. If you do have access to those things, gouged cane is what you want. http://www.millermarketingco.com/productpages/bassoon_cane/bassoon_cane.ht m 20. A box to keep all of your stuff in. A fishing tackle box will work, as will an art supply box. Get something with several compartments for keeping things organized. 21. Look at the list for the whole studio. Eventually you will want to purchase some of those things for yourself such as a reamer and drying rack. Oboe Students:

1. Knife. Hands-down, my favorite knife is the Wedge Knife from Edmund Nielsen (Wedge-type razor, double hollow ground). I like the large handle. http://www.nielsen-woodwinds.com/p-5052-knife-wedge.aspx ($38.00) 2. Sharpening Stone (fine grit). There are a variety of sharpening stones available that all work well. My favorite is the ceramic sharpening stone because it does not require any oiling. http://www.nielsen-woodwinds.com/p-5053-sharpeningstone-ceramic.aspx ($48.95) 3. A crappy knife for rough work (a reed knife that is worn out, or one thats a style you bought but dont really like. It needs to be sharp, but you want to save your best knife for the fine work.) 4. Cutting Block (get the biggest one you can afford. Get a bassoon cutting block if the oboe section of the website youre looking at doesnt have big ones). http://www.nielsen-woodwinds.com/p-4933-blockbillot.aspx 5. Ruler (Metric. We will measure things in centimeters) 6. Staples (for now, save old ones from your current reeds. You will eventually want to purchase nicer staples that are consistent and of a higher quality than are used for reeds that are sold). http://www.nielsen-woodwinds.com/p-5023-tubesnielsen.aspx 7. Straight-edge razor blades (if you are going to shape your own cane. Get these at the drug store.) 8. Something secure to put used razor blades in (dont through them directly into the garbage! Keep them in a jar, box or razorblade case if it has a discard side) 9. Thread (nylon thread from a double reed supplier is necessary. While bassoonists can get away with cotton tatting thread, you can not.). http://www.nielsenwoodwinds.com/p-5123-thread.aspx http://www.millermarketingco.com/productpages/thread/thread.htm 10. Clear nail polish (not necessary, but its nice to put a little dab on your knot just to be sure it doesnt come untied) 11. Bees Wax (you might like this for your reedmaking. I dont use it any more in my own)http://www.nielsen-woodwinds.com/p-4931-beeswax-cake.aspx 12. Mandrel (you will eventually want to get a mandrel that matches your staples so that the mandrel is flush to the end of the staple when inserted. If you purchase staples from a particular maker you can purchase a matching mandrel.). http://www.nielsen-woodwinds.com/p-4964-mandrel-wood.aspx 13. Easel (get someone in the studio to go to the hardware store and buy a 1/2 diameter wooden dowel, and saw off aprox. 7 sections for each person. You will mark this so that you can lay cane on it and mark the exact center for folding, score the cane, etc.) http://www.nielsen-woodwinds.com/p-4941-easel-oboe.aspx 14. Plaques (I really like my contoured plaques, but many oboists think they should never be used. You WILL need a flat plaque whether it is your only one or it supplements your contoured plaque). Flat: http://www.nielsen-woodwinds.com/p4998-plaque-oboe-pointed.aspx contoured: http://www.nielsenwoodwinds.com/p-4996-plaque-oboe-ebony-1-point.aspx 15. Teflon Tape (you can get this at the hardware store in the plumbing section. I find this comes in handy for instrument repair as well. Your bassoon friends will be

stealing it from you soon.): http://www.nielsen-woodwinds.com/p-5017-teflontape.aspx 16. Small C-clamp to tie thread to so that you dont leave fringe on tables (that way you can start a collection and show people how many reeds youve tied. Go get a cheap one at the hardware store). http://www.amazon.com/TEKTON-4017-4Inch-Heavy-Clamp/dp/B000NY6QMO/ref=sr_1_4?s=power-handtools&ie=UTF8&qid=1314306539&sr=1-4 17. Cane. If you dont have access to a shaper, splitter and gouging machine, you need shaped/gouged cane. If you do have access to those things, tube cane is what you want. http://www.millermarketingco.com/productpages/oboe_cane/oboe_cane.htm 18. A box to keep all of your stuff in. A fishing tackle box will work, as will an art supply box. Get something with several compartments for keeping things organized. 19. Look at the list for the whole studio. Eventually you will want to purchase some of those things for yourself such as your own shaper or a light.

For The Whole Studio: 1. Dial Indicator. http://www.nielsen-woodwinds.com/p-4820-dial-indicator.aspx ($195) orhttp://www.millermarketingco.com/productpages/measuring/measuring.htm ($149) 2. Oboe Shaper Tip -1 size: http://www.nielsen-woodwinds.com/p-4986-oboeshaper-tip.aspx ($99.99) 3. Oboe Shaper Handel: http://www.nielsen-woodwinds.com/p-4985-oboe-shaperhandle.aspx ($110) 4. Cane Splitter (if you are going to split, gouge and shape your own cane): http://www.charlesmusic.com/cgi-bin/theo?action=product&product_number=45-850 ($160) 5. Bassoon Straight Shaper Fox Size 3: http://www.charlesmusic.com/cgibin/theo?action=product&product_number=5-2-100 ($125) 6. A drying rack for bassoon reeds http://www.charlesmusic.com/cgibin/theo?action=product&product_number=5-3-700 ($45). You can purchase the pegs individually and make your own drying board: http://www.nielsenwoodwinds.com/p-4829-mandrel-pegs.aspx ($2.25 for each peg) 7. Bassoon Reamer (the more cutting edges the better. I think that the Popkin reamer is worth the extra money): http://www.charlesmusic.com/cgibin/theo?action=product&product_number=5-4-250 ($158) only $90 directly from Mark Popkin: http://www.bassooncamp.com/tools3.htm 8. A nice big spool of 22 gauge brass wire for the whole group of bassoonists: http://www.rjleahy.com/store/wire/bwi.htm (19.95 for a whole pound. This will last the whole studio for several years.) 9. Bassoon Profiling Machine. a. $1250 (+10% +$20 shipping) Glickman Popkin Profiling Machine (this is the one I like best) http://www.bassooncamp.com/tools3.htm

b. $1995 Forrests: http://www.forrestsmusic.com/gougers.htm c. $1799 Rieger Profiling Machine for Bassoon http://www.millermarketingco.com/productpages/machines/machine.htm d. $1799 Reeds N Stuff Profiler for Bassoonhttp://www.millermarketingco.com/productpages/machines/machi ne.htm 10. Oboe Gouging Machine a. $1499 Forrestshttp://www.forrestsmusic.com/gougers.htm b. $1550 RDG Oboe Gouging Machine at Forrestshttp://www.forrestsmusic.com/gougers.htm c. $1600 Hodge Products Gouger: http://www.hodgeproductsinc.com/catalog/product_info.php?manufacture rs_id=40&products_id=975&osCsid=5b924736f2f764422db5806f1be922 d3 d. $1570 Reeds N Stuff Gouger http://www.innoledy.com/oboe_suppgouging.html 11. Oboe Pre-gouger (if you get a gouger, you need a pre-gouger too. The little push one is fine. You dont need the one with the hand crank). a. $89 at http://www.forrestsmusic.com/gougers.htm b. Miller Marketing $129 http://www.millermarketingco.com/productpages/machines/machine.htm 12. IF a gouging machine is purchased that does not include a guillotine, one will have to be purchased as a stand-alone item (most gougers include them): a. Forrests $289 http://www.forrestsmusic.com/gougers.htm 13. End nippers for cutting the tips of reeds ($12 at Miller Marketing..bottom of the page): http://www.millermarketingco.com/productpages/tip%20cutters/tip%20cutters.ht m (If you have the money the tip cutters at the top of the page are really nice to use) 14. A light with a solid shade for looking through reeds. Clip on reading lights work well as they can be tucked away when not in use. 15. A small paint brush for keeping the blades of the machines clean and clear. 16. A sturdy table on which to use the profiling and gouging machines.