This article is a sharing of my experimentation in adjusting the double-profiler with pieces of cellophane to make up for differences in the gouge among various cane producers. Like many bassoonists, I do not gouge my own cane. The double-profiler is the type in which the blade (knife) is guided across the cane via a template fashioned in the scrape of the reed. The template is usually custom-made for a specific reed design. The single-profiler (Pfeifer and Berdon are two manufacturers of them) has its blade traveling across a flat template that can be adjusted through the use of metal shims or adjusting dials. While my thoughts mainly concern adjustments to the double-profiler, they may be adapted to the single profiler, too.
I presently use a Prestini Double-Profiler and had a machinist put my basic reed scrape in the template. Pfeifer and Heckel also make double-profilers and they all work on the same principle. Because there are differences in the cane gouge from supplier to supplier, I was searching for a way to make up for this difference without toying with the present adjustments on my machine (lowering/rising the blade or roller etc.). Some of the cane I get is very thinly gouged and the profiler knife just doesn't take off enough wood--especially in the back. So instead of lowering the knife or roller guide, I tried using tape to raise the cane. In other words, if the cane sat on the holder in a higher position, it would be like emulating cane that was gouged thicker. Scotch brand "Magic Tape" worked best for me. Put one layer across the entire cane holder. While one layer may not seem like much, it was surprisingly just how much more wood did come off the cane than I expected. The most I have ever had to use (for some very thinly gouged cane) was two layers! I purchase cane in large quantities and simply note on the outside of the box if any tape is needed on my profiler and, if so, how many layers to add. The system has given me marvelous results and it's so easy to peel off the tape and get back to the "original" machine to work with the heavier gouged canes--certainly much quicker than readjusting the machine. Hope those of you who don't do your own gouging and have run into this problem will have as much success as I've had!