Chiff and Fipple Forums

I use beeswax that comes from a jar of honey. That is stickier than what you buy in a craft shop which is mostly paraffin. For a stickier wax, I melt together in a double boiler 1/3 cobbler's wax 2/3 beeswax and I place the resultant wax in a fold of scrap leather. For reed binding, I use a waxed ny...

I usually bind my reeds to 1/8" above the (rolled copper) staple eye, back down nearly all the way to the bottom of the staple (1/16"-1/8") and I place the bridle just above the wrap end. I use a slightly fan shaped head and try to get the reed to play in tune before placing the bridl...

Outside Diameter X Length brass tubing
Tenor - 3/16" X 1 1/2"
Baritone - 7/32" X 2 1/4"
Bass - 1/4" X 4"

I'd like to try and make these brass reeds myself. How do you cut the lay so that it's nice and flat? I've got a router. That doesn't seem too safe. Filing sounds a little tricky. I used a file clamped in a vice. I found a combination of some brass rods/tubes that fit into the open end of the reed ...

I play composite drone reeds that I make myself. I use a brass body with Arundo Donax tongues. Length/diameter measurements I got from Tim Britton's "My Method" with further info from David Quinn's "The Piper's Despair". David recommends that one end be plugged with solder or a f...

The local auto parts store here sells wet/dry sandpaper up to 2000 grit. I polish the 2" in the center of the slip with this until it shines.

Save it for a regulator reed. Next attempt, make sure that the centerline is thicker than the edges.

I am still waiting for a solo album by him.

My most successful reeds use the boat shape. I believe it seals the sides easier and reduces tie up stress although I do use the David Daye grain raising and blow dryer heat treatment to speed up stress relief. I also polish the inside of the slip with 1000 grit wet/dry sandpaper for a little more b...

reedmasters wrote:fancypiper; How do you cut the lay on the brass tube? Surly, you don't file it by hand?

I just use a file and tubing. It takes a little time to get the bodies made.

Fancypiper, I'm currently using a David Daye composite AD with a short .010 plastic tongue. Got it tuned at concert, but it's just not quite as rock-steady or as easy as I want. First I'll try re-binding it and re-weighting. Originally the drone came with a tiny little squeaker of an elder reed, bu...

an seanduine wrote:Oops, terminology problem!
I guess I'm using Seamus Ennis terms. I mean the top (small) drone. In Gaelic I guess it was called An Man (missing the fadas).

Bob

Sorry, my brain has been known to segfault occasionally.

The drone tongues are from the bark side of waste piece of A.D. and sanded to a thickness that works with your drones, I end up with 0.020", 0.030" and 0.040" from soprano to bass or tenor, baritone and bass from Spanish cane. The brass tubes has a lay filed that goes from 2/3 of the ...

What reed design does the tenor drone play? I have never had much luck with quill drone reeds I use a brass body with Arundo Donax tongues. Length measurements I got from Tim Britton's "My Method" with further info from David Quinn's "The Piper's Despair". For my bridle, I use o-...

As a video I watched with four reedmaker's opinions and methods, the reed is "The Heart of the Instrument".