Letting wax settle before tuning

[Morne]

Paul (debra) has recently mentioned letting freshly waxed reeds rest for a few weeks to allow the wax to settle before starting tuning.

What experiences do our members have regarding this?

Some questions that come to mind:
- if you (or your customer) have the time, how long do you typically let it rest?
- in general, how much does this change the tuning? (I know it depends on the reed and wax quality, etc.)
- how does this affect the procedure of popping out the higher reeds if you're going to have to melt the wax again?

 

[debra]

Paul (debra) has recently mentioned letting freshly waxed reeds rest for a few weeks to allow the wax to settle before starting tuning.

What experiences do our members have regarding this?

Some questions that come to mind:
- if you (or your customer) has the time, how long do you typically let it rest?
- in general, how much does this change the tuning? (I know it depends on the reed and wax quality, etc.)
- how does this affect the procedure of popping out the higher reeds if youre going to have to melt the wax again?

The course in Italy mentioned three weeks after rewaxing reed plates with new wax. I dont know whether the frequency will go up or down while the wax settles, but the firmer a reed plate is held in place the more influence the resonance of the wood has. I do not believe it affects the tuning of popped out piccolo reeds as you just remelt old wax to put them back, which is different from replacing the wax. When you just need to pop out any reed (for instance to replace a valve on the inside) it is best to put it back without replacing the wax. (Just add a bit if needed.) Rewaxing with new wax is not something you do for a spot repair, only when the wax in the whole accordion has become too brittle.