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From: WVE~ol.com
Date: Wed, 7 Aug 1996 03:13:06 -0400
Subject: Breaking in reeds

In a message dated 96-08-06 02:34:17 EDT, Iron Mike writes:

>Interesting. Which reed? (Or does it vary?) Do you break them in? I find
>that makes a lot of difference, especially as far as reed failure.

I have searched in the engineering/metallurgical literature and I am unable
to find any 'break-in' effect wherein gentle stressing leads to increased
fatigue strength. The muscle analogy is tempting but without foundation. I
am aware that bamboo reeds are broken in for woodwind instruments but they
are organic and much affected by moisture. I suspect that with woodwinds, it
is not as much a case of reed life as it is getting them to the right
softness to play easily. If break-in "makes a lot of difference" in metal,
it would certainly be done for compressor blades, airplane structures, and
other important metal parts subject to fatigue failures.

To the contrary, copper alloys do not have a fatigue limit as does steel.
There is no stress value below which cyclic stresses do not cause some
fatigue. Thus, any cyclic stressing of the reeds, even during "break-in"
will cause some fatigue.....granted very little at the lower 'break-in"
stresses.

I posit that "breaking-in" a harp trains or re-trains the player to treat it
gently and that is what extends its life.

Donning my flame-resistant suit, I remain your ever-faithful old killjoy,

Vern