Profiling 101

How to profile bassoon cane.

Start with gouged cane.

Secure cane to the barrel, carefully line-up with 120mm hash marks. (Ends of barrel for Contra cane.)

Add security belts, attention to hash marks, keeping cane lined up visually.

      Mis-alignment or unintentional movment of cane leads to problems later.

Return barrel to profiler.

Set gauges to preferred height measurement. Profile can and adjust gauges to preference. The higher
     the number, the thicker the profile.

Profile cane. Remove bark in small organized cuts and expect to turn the barrel more than several times. See below for more detail.

      The profiling process is most effective when done methodically.  Place the sliding blade carriage on the back or collar of the reed.  Apply only a small amount of pressure so the blade is in firm contact with the bark of the cane. Alter your pressure from downward to forward and move the blade carriage, with your hand on the knob, to the center of the cane. Then lift the blade carriage up and retract it back to the collar position. ( I like the analogy of combing hair. Starting at the top or crown of your head and moving in one direction, the lifting up and retracting for the next section.) A hint, start profiling on the left side of the cane so that you can methodically take cane off in rows moving to the right.            

After taking off the first layer of bark, switch to the other side and do the same. The cane will respond better to the blade when taken off evenly on both sides. There will be a small accumulation of curls/chips that come off at the center. Be sure not to pull too aggressively or the cane may rip backward and ruin your efforts.  Expect to repeat taking off layers on both sides many times. This means taking the barrel out and turning it around for each side. The thinner the profile setting the more layers you will need to take off.

Profile until no cane can be removed.  Be patient and thorough in this process as it is easier and more accurate with the profiler than by hand! In the event that there are some curls at the center of the cane, you can lift the blade carriage and rub these remnants with your finger. They should brush off or continue to rotate the barrel and profile until they come up easily, don't pull.  If you are satisfied that no more cane is being removed, take it off the barrel.  (It is best NOT to put the cane back on the barrel and continue profiling.)  Hold it up to a light to check for spine alignment and general profile sillouette.  I often write the numbers used from the gauges with a soft pencil directly on the cane for reference.