Find a wire (from a radio supply store) that is soft enough to work with but firm enough to hold the tip opening as you mash the wire, trying to get the tip closed and in that elliptical ("football") shape. Do a lot of work with the wire until you are satisfied with the shape of the opening. Take the wire off and start again, if necessary. There is a fine line between getting the tip correct and cracking the reed. Don't mash the wire in the middle... just the sides, creeping into the middle area if necessary. I have been using the following wire: BELDEN 20 gauge. 8020 is the stock number. The picture shows a coated wire, which is not necessary.

Then "glue" as shown... but apply the glue with a small piece of wire, dipping the wire into a little pool of glue. Using the entire tube as shown in the picture Puts too much glue on. Use: POLYSTYRENE GLUE (for plastic models).

Then remove the glue as instructed in the following excerpt:

Even after getting the desired tip opening, the reed may seem to lack the complex vibrations that give it a "free" or "coasting" sensation. Your first impulse may be to scrape the entire reed. Don't! just scrape (very lightly) two or three times on the back half of both blades - and only in the middle area. If the reed seems to need still more freedom in vibrations, put very small amounts of plastic glue at crucial points on the front half of the reed. just before the emulsion dries, it will be somewhat "tacky." Take the knife and remove the lumps, but don't try to scrape the reed smooth. You will make it too thin. The glue is used to break down the stiffness of the plastic, causing it to vibrate in more partials. It frees the plastic and yet keeps it thick.

Not only does the tip need the eliptical shape, which is mainly done by shaping the wire, the tip also needs to be thinner on the edges than in the middle. So scrape these tip corners a little bit at a time.

Scraping in the back and other areas, as you try the reed, should always be done lightly.

I purchase my reeds from:

The last price (in spring 1984)was $4.00 each with postage paid for orders one dozen or more. I ask for reeds from the "2 dot mold" be - cause they seem to be a little narrower in the throat.

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