Reed-Making Day 1: Processing

As an active musician, graduate student, and oboe instructor, it is important to have plenty of materials for reed-making. If you read the section of my website about lessons, you can learn about the importance about performing and learning oboe on hand-made reeds instead of store-bought. The goal of this series is to show you the process that goes into making oboe reeds.

I like to use multiple brands of cane so I can figure out which types make the better reeds in the end. This time around, I am processing Loree and Rigotti cane. 

Step 1: Splitting the tube cane.
-I usually buy cane in its tube form. I use a device called a splitter to cut the tube cane into three pieces. Normally you can only use one of the three pieces, but sometimes if you are lucky, you can use two. You need to make sure to only use pieces of cane that are relatively straight and can lie flat on the table. A deformed piece of cane will not survive the pre-gouging, gouging, and shaping process. 

Step 2: Cutting the split cane.
-The split cane is cut to an exact length using a guillotine. I look at the piece of cane and select the side that looks least-deformed and slice off the extra. 

Step 3: Pre-Gouging the cane.
-Next, I use a device called a pre-gouger to shave off some of the cane to prepare it to be fully gouged. 

Step 4: Gouging the cane.
-Finally, I use a gouger to shave the pieces of cane to an exact measurement. I check every five or so pieces of cane with the micrometer to make sure that they are consistent.  

So much of the cane is trashed during the processing day. The pieces of cane that survived the gouging process are saved for tomorrow to be shaped and tied.