Reed drilling

PeterT · 03-05-2003, 04:36 AM

I've read somewhere about drilling a hole in your reed. Can anyone tell me why, where and what size hole. Sounds interesting.

MonchMan · 03-05-2003, 04:41 AM

Here is all thats fit to print

http://www.geocities.com/reed_drilling/

PeterT · 03-05-2003, 05:06 AM

Thank you MonchMan. That link told me everything I wanted to know about reed drilling. Think I'll spring for a drill press and experiment. The wealth of info by everyone on SOTW is really impressive. Thanks again.

Bryan Kendall · 03-05-2003, 02:05 PM

I use it on my soprano and my tenor saxophone reeds and it works....I don´t know how......but it definitely works on ALL my reeds.

My extreme upper and lower speak with great ease now.

Thanks Bootman!

**Bootman** · 03-06-2003, 04:46 AM

1/4" Router bit for a flat bottomed hole. you can use larger but it makes no difference to the end result.

SaxMBB · 03-17-2003, 02:41 AM

Does drilling work for fibracells?

Balladeer · 03-17-2003, 04:34 PM

BTW, reed drilling works when done by hand. I take a small, flat-blade screw driver and gently, but firmly, rotate it in-place. Though the result doesn't look as nice as with a drill press, it works. Be sure not to press too hard or go too deep.

Bill Mecca · 03-17-2003, 05:00 PM

I usually play fibracells, used to play Charpen, that came drilled. I picked up a Dremel and a 1/4" router bit, have done a couple reeds, some Vandoren and some plasticover. I never did a before and after, until recently, had a stiff plasticover, the next size softer was too soft for alt, so I took the stuffy one, drilled a quick hole and viola! it played great.

I haven't drilled fibracells, I fear opening up the coating would let the cellulose inside get wet and kill the reed, plus they play great for me out of the box. I have been recently playing baritone fibracells on tenor, and have a 4 that might need some drilling, but won't try that for a while, (the 3.5's are playing great)

Frank D · 03-17-2003, 10:38 PM

I have drilled Fibracells, and it does work, although it smells like heck, unless you enjoy a smell very much like burning plastic or rubber!

Am also using the Dremel tool setup. There's a nice drill press accessory for the dremel that you can get for cheap, I think I'm into the whole thing for under $50 bucks.

justbari · 03-18-2003, 07:18 PM

Has anyone drilled BARI plastic reeds?

Media Lint · 03-19-2003, 02:50 AM

I tried it with a dremel and it worked ok. I'm going to craft a jig one of these days and try it again since we have a drill press.

I didn't find a major benefit but it did improve a couple reeds that were too stiff.

Media Lint · 03-19-2003, 02:50 AM

Er, that said I never tried the drill press, so maybe there is a major benefit I will still have to find out.

**Roger Aldridge** · 03-20-2003, 12:48 AM

HOLY SMOKE!!!! I just tried Bootman's reed drilling method on some of my Alexander Classique reeds and I just can't get over the difference. Man, it takes my c-melody to a whole new level! Projection and resonse are so much more alive that it feels like I'm playing an ALTO rather than a c-melody. I'm still shaking my head in amazement.

Now, I didn't use a drill. I don't have a good place around the house to set up the kind of drill that Bootman uses. So, I simply used a flathead screwdriver, like Balladeer, to dig out a hole as best as I could. I then smoothed it out with a swiss army knife and Runyon reed rush. Ya can't get much more primitive than this! Never the less, I'm definitely convinced about the benefits of reed drilling!

For those of you who are serious reed drillers, do you think there would be much difference in one's sound between doing the reed drilling with a real drill and the simple tools I'm using? Please let me know your opinion. I think that I'll go by the hardware store tomorrow and see if I can find a hand drill (rather than an electric one) to help give me a cleaner and faster hole.

Have any of you guys tried reed drilling on clarinet reeds? If so, how did it work out? I'll have to give it a try.

Man, this is really cool!!!! I'm bowing down in Bootman's direction.

**Bootman** · 03-20-2003, 11:39 AM

Provided that the hole is smooth, the method used to achieve the hole doesn't seem to matter too much. I have found that the flat hole works better than a rounded hole. I use a drill press for expediency, it is very quick and easy to drill a whole box.

Glad to hear that your C melody is playing better with a drilled reed.

Drilling plasticover reeds works exceptionally well too.

Steve J. · 03-20-2003, 12:51 PM

Roger -
Don't hesitate to drill away on clarinet reeds..... same difference.

I have invested in a high speed Dremel tool and drill press stand. Disregarding ease of use, I find something positive responsewise with Dremel use.

I am guessing the heat resulting from high speed somehat cauterizes or seals area pores during the drilling. My guess is similiar results can happen with a polishing sans drill.

**Roger Aldridge** · 03-20-2003, 11:18 PM

I got myself a plain hand drill and some bits from the hardware store. It seems to work fine. I simply tape a reed to the desk, put the bit in place on the reed, turn the crank a couple of times, smooth off the hole with the Runyon reed rush, and I'm done. Quick and easy!

I also tried drilling some clarinet reeds today. For them I used a smaller bit -- 3/16". It seemed to me that a 1/4" would be way too big for the smaller reed. I simply guessed at the 3/16" size. If anyone has a better recommendation please let me know.

The drilled reeds have the affect of super-charging my clarinet. I have a set up that I'm really happy with: Morgan RM28 mouthpiece, Alexander Classique reeds, and a silver FL lig on a Patricola clarinet. But, the drilled Classique reeds allow it to play even better. I'm a happy camper!

justbari · 03-21-2003, 01:17 AM

Well, I've drilled 6 cane reeds plus one BARI plastic reed. I've noticed these things so far:

1. Drilling to the same depth doesn't produce the same result on the same type of reed.

2. You really need to make sure the hold is centered.

3. If you use a really sharp router bit there will be no need for hand finishing. All my reeds had a really nice clean cut.

4. The bit will skate around if you lower the drill press to fast. Take your time and it will give you a great hole.

5. A good way to judge depth is to hold the reed up to the light and compare the "see-throughness" with various areas of the reed (the tip and sides...). If it's as see-through as the very tip, you've probably gone too far (at least that was my experiencel).

I was pretty happy with 4 of 6 reeds that I drilled. It made the low notes easier and the high notes sounded great.

justbari

**Bootman** · 03-21-2003, 11:04 AM

Roger,
I just use the 1/4" flat bottom Router bit for all reeds. I may try a smaller router bit in the future but as the result is pretty well uniform across the board, Clarinet, Sop, Bass or Bari sax.... Try it out for yourself.

Try a drilled plasticover too, very interesting result are being had here with these reeds.

**Roger Aldridge** · 03-21-2003, 12:55 PM

Bootman,

Thanks! I'll give that a try. This reed drilling method of yours is really impressive.

Frank D · 03-21-2003, 03:56 PM

Doesn't drilling a Plasticover reed defeat the purpose of the coating, i.e. to seal out moisture so the reed doesn't get waterlogged or warped?