These days many bassoonists forgo the burden of purchasing and maintaining a gouger, a profiler and a shaper, especially since there are several reliable sources of processed cane. Although I profile and shape my own cane, I prefer to teach students to make reeds using cane which is already gouged, shaped and profiled (also known as GSP cane). To make reeds using GSP cane, the following tools and supplies are required (according to my specific method of forming and finishing blanks):
GSP cane (Barton Cane is a popular source)
forming mandrel (the mandrel used for forming the tube)
holding mandrel (the mandrel used for holding the reed for wrapping or finishing)
double hollow ground knife
flat file
rat tale file
reamer
plaque
#22 brass wire
#3 cotton crochet thread
Duco cement (or beeswax if you prefer a nontoxic alternative)
ruler
scoring tool or hacksaw blade
cutting block
broom handle
sanding block (can be made by gluing sandpaper onto a wooden block)
parallel pliers
pruners (the cheap kind, such as from the dollar section at Target)
pliers
tip cutter (the tip may be cut using a cutting block and a knife, but the results are often disappointing)
long brass forming mandrel tips from Christlieb Products.
