Waxing

[nagant27]

For those of you who have waxed reeds back in what is your technique for in between the reeds that are like .1mm apart?
I’m still fairly new to waxing entire reed blocks but I’m getting better with spoon/spatula method from a crock pot of melted wax, and I also use a modified soldiering tip that I have hammered flat. I use painters tape on the reed block wood edges. I’m having trouble with reeds that are right next to each other and have very minimal space. Seems like the wax flows all over and I want to ensure it is getting in between the reed plates. I was thinking of putting the painters tape on each reed plate and peeling off after waxing? Then putting on the leather valves?

 

[JIM D.]

You may try waxing the reed edges before placing them on the reed block. Also applying a light coat of wax on the
reed block before placing the reeds in position. And I ALWAYS apply the valves after waxing the reeds in place.

 

[nagant27]

Ok Jim. Thanks again. I always see videos of people waxing in the reeds with valves on them so I thought I was doing something “different” and maybe incorrectly. I also do the “skim” coat first, but I am going to try waxing the sides before seating them on the reed block. The more I practice and try things the better the waxing looks in the end. My Bass reeds actually look pretty nice, but these narrow spaced ones.... ehhh...are my weakness.

 

[debra]

Ok Jim. Thanks again. I always see videos of people waxing in the reeds with valves on them so I thought I was doing something “different” and maybe incorrectly. I also do the “skim” coat first, but I am going to try waxing the sides before seating them on the reed block. The more I practice and try things the better the waxing looks in the end. My Bass reeds actually look pretty nice, but these narrow spaced ones.... ehhh...are my weakness.

Don't worry, the narrow spaced ones are everyone's weakness! Jim's advice is very good. It is basically hopeless to try to get wax to go all the way down to the wood (for a good grip and seal) when you apply it after the reed plates are in place. The wax you pour over (and hopefully into) the opening will solidify before reaching the wood. The most difficult is when you need to do just one reed plate in between others already in place (I had to do that). If you are replacing all the reed plates you can put one in place, wax its side and then (quickly) slide and press the next reed plate in place, and repeat until you have all reed plates in place.
The advice to always apply the (outside) valves after waxing the reeds in place is also very good. Yes we see videos of people first putting valves on and then waxing, and this is how it is done in the factories by workers who do nothing but waxing all day every day... (and it is how they teach it in Accordion Craft Academy) but the reality is that it is much safer to put the valves on after waxing (and cleaning off any spillage). You will see that the demonstration videos never show how to do reed plates with very narrow spacing in between.