The bassoonist who makes reeds by hand often uses a fold-over type shaper and must try to make reeds as quickly and yet as carefully as possible. The inconvenience of having cane split while on the fold-over shaper tip can be alleviated by this method:
1 . Measure the width of your shaper tip at the point where the tube section of the reed begins. Cut a 2-inch long strip of shirt cardboard to this width. Also, mark the shaper tip with a charcoal pencil at a point exactly 1/4 inch lower than the point where the tube section of the reed begins (mark both sides of the shaper).
2. Lightly score the cardboard strip and fold exactly in half (one-inch sections).
3. Cut from the bottom left corner to the center of the fold over piece. Likewise, do the same from the bottom right corner to the center (use very sharp scissors- if you wish to be more exact, use a ruler). After separating the halves you will now have two identical pieces having the appearance of arrowheads.
4. Bevel the bottom 3/4-inch of each "arrowguard" slightly on each side. (Note: author did not specify whether bevel is on outside or inside of the pieces. Ed. )
5. Using paper cement, coat the back side of each arrowguard (one drop spread over the surface is enough).
6. Place the arrowguards on the shaper at the points marked with charcoal pencil (be certain that the arrowguard points are placed at the exact center of the shaper tip).
7. Use the shaper's cane-holding jaws to secure the cardboard arrowguards against the metal for drying.
The advantage of using these arrowguards is that the tube section of the profiled cane will now have a cushion to rest against during the shaping process, whereas before it did not. Hopefully, this method will prevent many cracked pieces of cane - and as many headaches!