Doublereed Archive - Posting 000018.txt from 2004/08

From: PhilFrei@-----.com
Subj: [DR-L] Re: Mineralization within cane tubules....
Date: Fri, 6 Aug 2004 12:38:48 -0400

>>Quoth Mark Charette:
"There are
a number of other factors that affect the stiffness of the reed - for
instance, if there is significant mineralization from your saliva
clogging the tubules it'll go soft, since it's the presence of water within
the tubule cylinder that gives the reed its stiffness ...."
--------------------------------------------------------
If it is mineralization that prevents water or saliva from getting to
the tubules and swelling the cane to playing stiffness, then something
should be available to dissolve this mineralization and restore the flow
capacities of the tubules?
Michael Benthin <<

Perhaps this explains why a slight "dusting" of the back and heart of a reed
can be of such help in reinvigorating a reed: it removes the clogged cane and
allows water to penetrate further into the reed again?

I wonder, would putting a reed in one of those gizmos that vibrate water at a
high velocity, with distilled water work as a means of unclogging?

Vinegar, eh? Maybe after it is rinsed off it won't taste so bad...

It seems we have some controversy as to whether saliva digests reeds or not.

- Phil Freihofner

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