You’ve been patient, it is time to make this a playable reed!  First, slide the second wire onto the line 5/16 inch behind the first. Check the tightness of the wires.  If you need to tighten them do so, especially the third!  The third wire won’t be seen again so make sure that it is the way you want it!

I believe in wrapping reeds, many people don’t. The reason I take the extra bit of time to wrap is because it helps weight the tube; if I drop the reed, it should land on the heavier back and not on lighter blade; it also looks prettier. I first coat the reed from the second wire back in Duco cement. Take the string and bring it up a side of the tube, then make your first loop around the reed just below the second wire. Then I wrap down the reed until the third wire and make the bundle at the back. 


To finish off the reed I make a lasso with an extra bit of string, wrap the string that is on the reed around the lasso, cut off the string on the reed and place the end through the lasso, then pull the lasso through the strings that were wrapped around it and you will have a wrap that will stay. Finally, coat the entire wrap in Duco cement again and let it dry.  If I’m feeling artistic after the reed has dried 24/48 hours I’ll put different color glitter nail polishes on the wrap.

In order to keep track to which reed is which, and to keep my reed journal up to date, I need to mark the reed with the number in a way that will stick. I write the reed number on the blade with a black fine-point sharpie. But because this will most likely be scrapped off, I also take a file and lightly file a place between the first and second wire to write the number. Then I put a drop of clear polish on th
Fold down the first and second wires so you don’t poke yourself. Generally I fold the first wire towards the second and the second towards the third over the wrapping of the reed. It is often helpful to first bend down the very tip of the wire and then the entire wire, this makes the tip of the wire point to the cane making it less likely to cut you.

Remember to record what you did in your reed journal!