Shaping techiques
Monday October 08 2007
A reader, sparked by Patty’s post, wrote me with a few questions:
- Do you use a new one each time, or sharpen them?
Yes, I use a new one each time.
Mr. Weber says you can resharpen them—×Why a razor blade, why not just an old reed knife
without a burr?
Mr. Weber likes to sharpen a razor blade down to a thicker part of the steel. I would never use an old reed knife, because I don’t think you could get it sharp enough to have a clean, even cut.
To answer the second question retorically. One
teacher I had (as well as most books) suggest a razor
blade, but I’ve never heard the reasoning. I do know
professional oboists that just use an old reed knife.
I’ve recently been doing a science experiment. When I
shape cane, I’ll shape 1/3 with new razor blades, 1/3
with old sharpened razor blades, and 1/3 with a
sharpened no-burr reed knife.
Now granted, shaper tips are not all the same. Some shaper tips really encourage a better shape up by the ears and how that curve shape is. But again, I would never use a reed knife. It’d be too thick of a blade, which wouldn’t allow you to get close enough to the shape without putting too much torque on the cane as it comes off. It’d rip the cane off.
patty
Oct 8, 2007
For me it’s not the cost of the razor blades. As Cooper pointed out to me when he was here, that’s really nothing! It’s just the waste of it all. (Yeah, Cooper, I’m one of those “tree huggers” you talked about! 
I would prefer, if at all possible, to get more use out of each razor blade. I’ve now heard that I could sharpen them on a diamond stone. (I don’t own one; I use a water stone or, now that I have one, the thing Cooper sold me ... can’t remember what it’s called and I’m away from home.)
Bautbois
Oct 8, 2007
i don’t like wasting them either…i keep the ones that i’ve used. they go to the back of the box and I use them over time for other things, like cutting the string off old reeds. i too am a neurotic recycler!
cjwrightoboe
Oct 9, 2007
Just a clarification on patty’s comment. I didn’t “sell you” the sharpening steel finisher thingy, but kind of… well… sold you my old one and bought a new one (to save on shipping?) I don’t know. The point being, I didn’t resell it to you for a profit.
john towle
Oct 9, 2007
You can either use an extra fine diamond DMT steel credit card (green) or a translucent Arky stone. I have both & like the Arky best. It yields a smoother edge. I got the green credit card gizzy from Rockler Hardware for $11 plus change & the translucent Arky from HallProEdge for $81. The Arky is a second & works just great. The grit on the credit card is 1200 & on the Arky 4000. Both outfits have websites. It only takes a few seconds to hone a razor blade to a fare-thee-well. I like the way the blade works better sharpened than when new. You can buy 100 razor blades at Home Depot (Stanley brand) for about $6 plus change. I shape about ten pieces of cane on one razor blade, then toss the blade into the back of the drawer. Haven’t figured out how to recycle them yet. I should mention that my old EzeLap extra fine diamond stone from Ann Hodge (also 1200) ($20 when I got it ten years ago & still the same price now) works great too. The credit card version is simply lighter, smaller & therefore more portable. My wife (The Boss) says I have too many things. She is probably right.
http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=10443
http://www.hallsproedge.com/bench.htm#4
http://www.hodgeproductsinc.com/store/index.php?cPath=106_127
Best,
john
patty
Oct 9, 2007
Aw Cooper. Even if you don’t make a profit, it was sold to me! 
“Sold” doesn’t necessarily mean profit. In fact, some people in the states these days might sell a house for a loss. Go figure!
Oct 8, 2007
a razor blade costs 10 cents. A piece of gouged cane is worth $2…there’s an argument here for playing it safe(using new blades)and getting the cleanest shape possible! Having said that,I tend to go two pieces of cane per blade myself. But I’ll try sharpening them and see what happens. In the great scheme of things, this is a hard place to save money!
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