The journal
Notes from
the reed desk
Longer-form writing that doesn't fit the wiki — process notes, experiments, things learned at the gouging machine, and the occasional opinion. New entries land here first, then settle into the wiki as reference.
The four scrapes
A mental model for seasoning an oboe reed in four passes — from buzzy blank to balanced, responsive reed. By Natalia Mielnik.
The Baroque oboe reed
Wider, shorter, and tied to a different sound, the Baroque oboe reed asks the maker to unlearn modern habits. A look at what historical reeds tell us about cane and taste. By Natalia Mielnik.
What changes for the English horn
An English horn reed is not just a bigger oboe reed. Wider cane, a longer scrape, and a cork staple change everything about how it's made. By Natalia Mielnik.
Crow, don't guess
The crow is the most honest diagnostic a reed will give you — if you know how to listen. A student's guide to reading the double-tone and letting it direct the knife. By Natalia Mielnik.
Sharpening the reed knife
A dull knife scrapes; a sharp knife shaves. How to put a true edge on a reed knife and keep it there, plus why bevel choice changes the way you make reeds. By Natalia Mielnik.
Reading a tube of cane
Before you gouge a single piece, the raw tube already tells you whether it will make a reed. A beginner's guide to judging diameter, colour, and grain by eye and ear. By Natalia Mielnik.