Reed Making

[cbaird]

Mr. Apps,

What is your advice if someone wanted to try their hand at reed making? Where does one find the requisite tools and supplies? I'm stumped when it comes to the gouges and shaping blocks necessary for the job.

Thanks in advance for taking the time here.

Christopher

[Chris Apps]

Christopher,

I started out with some very rudimentory tools that I fashioned myself. A bought a gouge for removing the pith from the inside of the reeds and them sanded the gouged cane on a piece of plastic tube of 4in. diameter. I then worked the outside be putting the cane in a recessed piece of wood so I could work on the shell until the slip of cane was the right thickness. The rest can be done by gradually removing cane until the desired shape is achieved.