Why are reeds inconsistent? Why don't some work?

[snazzyjazzyRoHo]

This might sound like a dumb question, but everyone knows that if you buy a box, some reeds wont work. That much is known by everyone. My question is what makes a reed not work? Why don't some reeds work? Reeds are machine made in a factory, right?

Thanks!!!

[SearjeantSax]

cane is a natural material so we can't in anyway make each piece of can identical to another because it is basically a raw material that we refine by the manufacturing process,

[heath]

Learning how to work on reeds will sort this problem out about 95% of the time.

Of course there are reeds that are simply duds. You can't do anything about that except toss them.

[dave2sax]

It's an imperfect organic material grown from a crop. Even though they may be cut to the same external dimensions, thickness and shape - the internal fiber structure and strength is always going to be different and relatively random. It's like asking why doesn't one tomato or apple always taste identical to another.

[harmonizerNJ]

....and then consider that the thin end of the reed is where most of the vibration takes place, and it is very thin at that end.

[snazzyjazzyRoHo]

ah! i see now. yeah i was just wondering what technically causes the inconsistency. thanks guys!