Wind instruments - A special kind of bore precision
Woodwind instruments, especially the clarinet, were my starting point in the understanding of precision woodworking, maturing of wood, long-term stability etc. The bore of a first-class instrument (such as my Buffet-Crampon) is by no means a simple cylinder, but a subtle shape that is achieved with an array of very precise reamers. And the bore on a good wind instrument shines like an old rifle barrel.
Having learnt something about what you can and should do to achieve precision in wood, it makes one cry to read some of the brutal methods advocated to "clean up" old rifle stocks.
:wave:
Patrick