There its great fun in it to make a chanter reed but there is lots of thinks to know about it. See here the instructions and follow the Picture fig. also to tell you the first time its not easy, because seems bring lots of stress, here is one thing Patience and time. To make a suitable practice chanter reed take 30.- 45 minutes to do it.I hope you will have the same pleasure as I did.The skills coming after many times practice and craftmanship.
Fig.1
Tools:
1, Hobby Tool-Cutter
2, Knife,
3, Yellow Hemp
4, Dentel waxed thread (seals Better)
5, Mandril
6, second glue (not necessary, its handy)
7, sandpaper
8, Bottle plastc (0,3 or 0,5 millimeter thick)
9, Staple (use your old Chanter Reed as expample)
Use sharp tools helps you a lot to finish in craftmanship.
(the next tools are 1,aluminium ruler and a Cutter placemat.)
Fig.2
Use plastic from a bottle nearly 0,3 -0,5 mm. don't use coca cola battle a little bit of flexebility its needed.and flat no ribbels, the real thickness here its not to worry about and will tell you later, the rounding in the plastic is need as well, and have natural rouning in. You have sign it over do with permanent marker it helps you when cutting out the blades. You Need a sharp knife to cut once This is important when the two blades bring it together.
Fig.3
When you have cut the two blades out of plastic, keep both blades between your fingers and see of their are the same length and without efforts. this is for the next step vey important. cut the blades longer as needed this is for the finishing important when shorten the mouth.
Fig.4
Use the staple from older chanter reed and see if for good finish rounding and no defects. Use a drop of second glue at the end blades and staple to keep it together see here Fig,4. its keep it together when turning the hemp on it. without moving blades, its not needed but it help you a lot to keep the blades on the places.
Fig.5
use the mandril as handy tool for better grip. when turning the hemp (dental waxed thread) beginn in the middle see figure. now you have to turn round up to the end of the staple careful must taken without losing power when twist it, also do not pul to hard on the thread. now the important move twist it with care and also to seal to blades together.put half knot in it and keep the mandril of try to blow if hear some sounds its okay, the pitch coming later. don't worry. But most important is the two blades are seals without leaking air.
Fig.6
Now you have the first result of a Practice chanter reed. Put yellow hemp at the end of the reed staple and twist as need for your chanter. take care at the end of the staple 1mm free space and see brass as well. fit in seat of the chanter. when blow you'll find its not the right sound, the blades are very stiff. this is normal.
Fig.7
Now the important move, first scrape off with sandpaper and makes the blades flexible. do it gently and do not scrape to much off, because when you scrape off never returns. when blow again on the reed it will be lower in pitch but easy blow in. if not scrape more off. when its ready take with the cutter (fig.7a) mm for mm stiple cut down and you'll will be shorten the length but also sharpen the pitch. depents of your chanter. repeat it when you have the final tone. "DO IT CAREFULLY"
Fig.7a
Fig.8
Okay when you finish it and put the reed in the chanter seat, blow again and you can play a tune. it takes several hours for the real sound blow again and practice. after many hours if the sounds need corrections more insert the seat or cut little a half mm its enough to fix it. Your own made Practice chanter-reed.
ENJOY.......
Remember when you do this for the first time, don't worry if you make any mistakes and some fustration that's a part of it to follow in footsteps of craftmanship. Also keep your head up, and try again again and again. the results will be coming sooner by time. Keep rest in it and work accurate that's also help. After many pieces of make the reed you will find out easily and more feeling for that.
For more help or questions go to infomation and contact us. I would like to help you if needs.
