Index

Figure Machine

Figure Carriage

Transport Lock

Profiling the Reed

Prepare the blank by soaking it in warm water for 3-5 minutes and then gently scraping the bark off the scraping surface of the reed.
Scrape the tip of both sides of the blank reed with a knife and then open the reed by clipping the tip.
Place the reed on the plaque (9). Push the mandrel (11) snugly into the staple end of the reed. Line up the tip of the reed on the mandrel up to the guide line on the plaque.

The American profiler has 3 guide lines.

• For a longer tip, line up the end of the reed with the first guide line (closest to the template) or even a little over this line
• For a medium length tip, use the middle guide line
• For a shorter tip, use the third guide line

Tighten the mandrel set screw (14) so that it holds the mandrel firmly in place. Rotate the clamp (4) into position.

Begin profiling by moving the carriage (1) with gentle pressure across the cane starting in the tip area. Rotate the handle (10) with your left hand every 3-4 strokes so that you cover the entire scraping surface. Do not rotate the handle during the profiling stroke. Continue profiling in this manner (from one side to the other) until you can remove no further cane from the first blade. Release the clamp and mandrel set screw, and withdraw the mandrel so that the reed is no longer engaged with the plaque. Rotate the mandrel 180 degrees and repeat the process for the other blade.

After the profiling process is completed, remove the reed from the mandrel, clip and adjust the tip as necessary.

Before profiling the entire length, pass over the first 2 mm of the blade with the tip profiler to remove a good amount of the cane at the tip. This will help ensure that as you profile, the corners do not tear out.

Adjusting the Thickness

Turning the micro-adjuster clockwise will result in thicker reeds, while turning counterclockwise will results in thinner reeds. Each line on the micro-adjuster represents a change in thickness of about 0.01 mm.

After adjusting the thickness, tighten the set screw again. As the tip of the set screw is made of plastic, do not overtighten this screw.

Once you have adjusted the thickness, ensure that the blade does not come into contact with the tongue. This will damage the blade and tongue.

To adjust the thickness of the scrape in the back area, release some tension of the clamp. This will allow the profiler to scrape more cane out of the back area.

Adjusting the Tip Length

After loosening the set screw for the template (15), the length of the tip can be adjusted by moving the template.

Moving the template (7) closer to the tongue (9) will lengthen the tip area, while moving it away from the tongue will shorten the tip area.

The change in position can be monitored through the scale on the side. For more precision, the position of the template can be measured with a caliper from the far end of the template to the engraved line on the tongue (9).

If the length of the tip is adjusted, the length of the scrape will change accordingly. This needs to be corrected.

Adjusting the Scrape Length

The length of scrape adjustment (8) is fixed by a screw (16). Loosen the screw, set the desired length and then tighten the screw.

If the length of the scrape adjustment is moved in direction of the plaque (9) the length of scrape will get longer.

If the length of the scrape adjustment is moved in direction of the handle (10) the length of scrape will get shorter.

The position of the scrape limiter can be measured with a caliper from the deepest part of the scrape limiter to the engraving line on the tongue.

Adjusting of the Carriage Travel

The carriage travel is limited by the two screws (12 + 13). Loosen the set screw (19) and change the travel according to your needs. When tightening the set screw please do not over tighten this screw, because it has a plastic head and you could damage the screw.

The carriage travel adjustment for screw 13 has to be set so the travel ends a little after the tip of the reed.

The carriage travel adjustment for screw 12 has to be set so the ball of the thickness adjustment knob (20) can not sit in the long hole that is for the screw that holds the length of scrape adjustment (8).

Changing Templates

After removing the set screw for the template, the template can be removed and replaced.

Once the new template has been attached, and the set screw tightened, please ensure that the blade does not come into contact with the tongue. This could damage the blade and the tongue.

This might require adjusting the overall thickness with the micro-adjuster.

Changing Tongues

To change or replace the tongue, simply remove the set screw (17). Once it has been removed, the tongue (9) can be replaced.

Calibrating the Thickness Adjustment Knob

The thickness adjustment knob (20) can be calibrated, so it shows the exact measurement. Loosen the set screw (28) and turn the scale so it shows the actual measurement.

Replacing and Adjusting the Blade

Loosening or removing the set screw will enable the blade to be replaced or adjusted. Adjusting the blade position works best when the set screw is snug against the blade, as this light friction will ensure that the blade is not moving too much at once.

After replacing or adjusting the blade, re-tighten the set screw firmly so that the blade is securely fastened.

Once the blade has been replaced or adjusted, and the set screw tightened, please ensure that the blade does not come into contact with the tongue. This could damage the blade and the tongue.

Adjusting the blade is best done with the use of a Blade Adjustment Indicator, as achieving the ideal shaving thickness of 0.03 mm is nearly impossible without the aid of a dial indicator.

Adjusting the Position of the Clamp

The position of the reed clamp (4) can be adjusted. Loosening the screws (18) on the positioning rings (5) on either side of the clamp allows the clamp and rings to be moved to a desired position. Once this position has been attained, tighten the screws on the positioning rings.

Please ensure that the clamp does not come into contact with the blade, as this can lead to damage.

Safety Instructions

Please always be careful while using your Reeds 'n Stuff product. The blades used in our machines, and reed making in general, are very sharp and may cause injuries and other damage.
In order to avoid negative consequences, you should follow the following safety instructions during installation, usage and maintenance of your machine:
Reeds 'n Stuff products are not a toys. They are therefore not to be used by children and persons with limited physical, sensory or mental abilities.

Reeds 'n Stuff products are intended to be used indoors.