Reed Tools
Every bassoonist has their own favorite tools for making reeds, and these are mine. It's taken me several years to acquire all of these and figure out what works best for me, and I'm always on the lookout for new and improved products. I use every single one of these tools to make Jiffy Blanks, as well as a Rieger tip cutter and Rieger tip profiling machine. I’ve included links for where to buy each item I use, as well as information about each tool. If you’re just starting out in reed adjustment or reed making, don’t feel pressured to buy everything at once (and PLEASE talk to your own bassoon teacher FIRST before making any purchases!!)
Pencil: I love a dark-leaded Blackwing pencil (perfect for marking your part!), and ACDC Reeds’ wrapped Blackwing pencils are both beautiful and functional. The pencil pictured is a Forrests Music pencil I’ve had for a long time.
Reed knife: I use this Rigotti double-beveled knife, it’s economical, effective, and easy to sharpen. If you’re looking to upgrade, the Chang knife I bought a few months ago has been working great so far!
X-Acto blades: I use this X-Acto knife for scoring the bark of the tube, you can find these at crafts or hardware stores too.
Ruler: It’s very important to use a ruler when placing the wires so that each reed is the same. I’ve made over a thousand reeds in my life (so far!), but I still use this ruler for every reed I form. I use millimeters to measure my reeds, but some teachers use inches, so it’s nice to have both options.
Forming mandrel: I use this Fox forming mandrel when forming blanks. The thinness of this mandrel tip makes it very easy to insert into the reed mummy. I have added a notch on the mandrel indicating the proper forming depth, so every reed’s internal measurements will always be the same (the notch was placed my former teacher Mr. Winstead, I can take measurements and send them to you if you send me a note!).
Holding mandrel: I use this Fox holding mandrel when working on finished reeds, it helps me hold the reed and provides a counter-weight so I don’t drop the reed while I’m scraping it.
Reamer: I use this Rieger spiral reamer. Please note, it performs best when the reed is completely dry.
Diamond triangle file: I use this diamond-coated triangle file to bevel, smooth the collar after cutting with a razor, and fine-tuning the blade of the reed. To purchase the exact file I use, select the “Coarse Grit" and “Three Square/Triangle” shape options.
Plaque: The best plaque I’ve ever used is Jessica Goldbaum’s steel plaque. They’re currently out of stock, but you can find links to purchase the plastic version at the link provided, or send her an email to be added to the next order of metal plaques she’s working on! It’s pricier than a standard Fox plaque, but worth it for the discerning reed maker.
Pliers: These red Rieger pliers changed my reed-making game significantly! They are pricier than hardware store needle nose pliers (which is what I used for years), but the round cut-out behind the plier’s tip is what makes these so worth it - you too can have perfectly round reed tubes and butts, if you buy these pliers!
Razor blades: The sharpest straight razor blades you’ll ever buy are GEM razors, they have no competition. I use these razor blades for cutting in the collar and shaping cane (although for Jiffy Reeds I buy pre-shaped cane so I go through a lot fewer blades!). I try to get more use out of each blade by sharpening them with a sharpening stone once they have been used a few times.
22 gauge brass wire: I buy wire in bulk to save money, it doesn’t tarnish or go bad (unless you get it wet), and I’ve only ever used 22 gauge. It’s flexible enough to twist and adjust with ease, and strong enough to support any reed tube.
Cotton twine: After folding a piece of GSP cane, I put on the first wire tightly and wrap a length of wet cotton twine around the cane to form my blanks. This ensures the tube cracks slowly and evenly, and that no cracks travel past the first wire. Some bassoonists leave their reeds to dry as mummies, but I choose to unwrap the cotton and add the second and third wires right away while the cane is still wet. This lets me manipulate the cane into my desired position while it is pliable, rather than waiting for the mummy to dry and then manipulating dried cane that may have dried incorrectly. Any string will do, but buying food-safe cotton kitchen twine allows me to use it to truss chickens or tie up roasts!
Easel: I use this cane easel to support the cane when scoring and cutting the collar. You could also easily use a dowel rod or other cylindrical object roughly the same circumference as a tube of cane to ensure the piece of cane doesn’t crack when applying downward pressure.
Not Pictured:
Christlieb forming pins: I bought these stainless steel long forming mandrel pins as a college freshman and they still look brand new. My dad made me a drying board out of a piece of wood he drilled holes into that the pins fit inside, and it works great for letting my newly formed blanks dry out. You can also stick them into a piece of Styrofoam or florist foam, if you don’t have a board!
Hot glue gun: You’ll need a glue gun with high temperature capabilities, the low temp versions don’t stick to the cane. I don’t have this exact glue gun, but this set comes with a sample pack of glittery glue sticks, which is very exciting!
Glue sticks: Here’s the exact brand and quantity of glitter glue sticks I bought, but there’s lot of colorways to choose from, and glue guns and glue sticks are also available at your local craft store.
Cane: Barton Cane is the official cane supplier of Jiffy Reeds, and I can’t say enough nice things about Dave and Julie and their incredible products! I use their Standard Profile Medir cane in both the Herzberg and Rieger 1A shapes.
Obviously these tools are all up to personal preference, and our lovely community of double reed retailers have many more options than the links I’ve presented above. Check out these shops to view more choices and find your perfect fit! And, if you know of a reed tools retailer not listed, email me at jiffyreeds@gmail.com so I can update this list!