Recommended Reed Tools

Many beginning reed makers (and their parents) find the process of searching for proper reed tools to be very daunting and filled with anxiety. Many have no idea where to start, and generally purchase a "reed kit." These kits will certainly have all the tools I have listed below, however the tools are not the best quality, and you'll be purchasing new supplies very quickly if the young reed maker continues beyond the beginning stage. Because of this, I have put together below a list of reed tools that are high quality, but exactly what a beginning reed maker needs to be successful.

Left: Rigotti, Right: Landwell

Reed Knife

The standard reed knife used in the U.S. is a double hollow ground knife. Many oboists have multiple, which they use for different parts of the reed. I personally use a Rigotti folding knife for my beginning scrapes and finish the reed with a Landwell (medium) knife. I like the weight found in the handle of the Rigotti, and I like the heavy steel of the Landwell.

For beginners purchasing their first knife, I would recommend a simple Rigotti or Chiraugi double hollow ground knife.

Mandrel

A mandrel is used when tying the reed and some will use it while scraping as well. The mandrel should be matched to the staples (tubes) you use. When the staple is placed on the mandrel it should fit completely flush. A Rigotti flat mandrel works well with a number of different staple brands.

Left: Flat plaque, Right: Contoured plaque

Plaque

The plaque is used during the scraping process to protect the blades of the reed from damage. There are two main types: flat and contoured. Each of these come in wood and metal. My preference is the metal contoured plaque, as it allows for ease of scraping away much fo the cane on the tip. I primarily use the flat plaque to check that both blades are the same.

Cutting Block

The cutting block is used to clip the tip of the reed. I personally use a larger block so that I have a large space to clip the reed.

Left: MusEcho ruler, Middle: Caliper, Right: 6 inch ruler

Ruler

The ruler is used when tying the reed as well as during the scraping process. We use the metric system, so you want to purchase one that has at least one side with the metric system. I like the 6 inch metal rulers, but there is also a newer ruler made specifically for reed making by MusEcho.

Staples

Staples are the bottom portion of the oboe reed. There are many different types to choose from, which can make choosing the proper one very difficult. The standard size used in the US is 47 mm, but from there it's your choice what you want to choose. Silver/Nickel generally has a warmer sound than brass, but brass is usually cheaper. For beginners I suggest the Stevens #2 staples. They are low in cost and a very good staple for the price. With Stevens you can also choose Thinwall or Thickwall. I would choose Thinwall.

Cane

There are many options for oboe cane. The advanced reed maker will start with tube cane. The intermediate reed maker will start with gouged cane. The beginning reed maker should start with gouged and shaped cane. (Both a gouger and a shaper is very expensive, and not something a beginner wants to mess with.). There are many options of gouged and shaped cane to purchase. For true beginners I suggest to buy the cheapest that you can purchase. There is a lot of trial and error in the tying process, which means a lot of the cane will be wasted. This is my suggestion of gouged/shaped cane. Choose any brand, 10-10.5 diameter, and Gilbert -1 shape.

Thread

Thread is used to tie the cane to the staple. You'll want to purchase FF nylon thread, and I recommend a spool with ends that hold the thread on the spool. This is where you can get very creative and choose the color that reflects who you are. There are solid color thread as well as multicolored.

Beeswax

Beeswax is something that is used during the tying process. Not every reed maker will use beeswax. It is a completely optional item, but I find that it is very helpful to create a nice grip on the thread while you are tying the reed.

Blue: Pencil case, Black: Nylon tool case

Tool pouch

You will want something to carry all your new reed tools in to keep them together and safe. There are some nice nylon and leather pouches with places to organize all the tools. I have recently switched to using a pencil case to keep all my tools. I find that it is much easier to find things, and it is much cheaper than the old leather tool pouch I used to use.

Photos by Taylor Buxbaum