Reeds reed cutting

[allansto]

Hey guys (and ladies) I ve just bought myself a reed cutter ........from ....you guessed it..... PRC.
So obviously it didnt come with any instructions .........not that I`d probably trust them.

Now using the unit is very self explanitory.........actually easier than a pencil sharpener.

The question is...... how much should I cut off a reed each time to harden or reface the tip?
Is 1mm too much
Regards
Allansto.

 

[jazzdoh]

As little as possible,you can always take a bit more off on a second cut.

 

[Colin the Bear]

0.01mm is possible with a Baritone or tenor reed. Cutting 1 mm off in one go is way too much. They don't trim well when very wet. Pay special attention to getting the reed positioned centrally. My Chinese ones are a little fiddly to use but do work well with patience and practice.

If you have some sucess with trimming then a more expensive model with a screw feed table gives the best results. I like a cordier cutter. I bought my first 2nd hand over 30 years ago and it's still going strong.

http://www.woodwindandbrass.co.uk/acatalog/saxophone_reed_cutters.html