Klarinet Archive - Posting 000289.txt from 1995/07

From: "Edwin V. Lacy" <el2@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: Help req re. stuck barrel
Date: Fri, 28 Jul 1995 00:50:17 -0400

On Thu, 27 Jul 1995, Robin C. Armbrister wrote:

> This might cause some people to gasp in horror but a tip for drying out a
> swollen clarinet or other wooden instrument - I heard this from an oboe
> player at music camp-is to store it for a
> while with pieces of orange peel inside the case. Has anyone else heard
> of this method? I've never tried it.

Actually, storing citrus peel in the case is a time-honored method of
humidifying an instrument, and is still one of the most effective ways
to do it. BTW, grapefruit peel works even better - it is thicker, and
therefore has more moisture content. Be sure to remove all of the
membrane inside the peel so the moisture can be transferred from the peel
to the instrument. Not insignificantly, this treatment also makes your
instrument and case interior smell better!

I have been told by various people that the late Hans Moennig, perhaps
the premier woodwind repair person of the 20th century, would always use
that method when he received an instument to work on which hadn't been
played in a long time. He would put grapefruit or orange peels in the
case with the instrument and set it on a radiator overnight.

But, if your problem is that the tenons have expanded due to too *much*
humidity, this would not be the solution - in fact, it could make the
problem worse. If you have left the pilot light on your furnace on for the
summer in order to help keep the humidity level in your basement lower,
try opening the case and leaving the instrument next to the furnace
overnight. I don't necessarily recommend this, but I have also heard of
putting the instrument for several hours in an oven on a gas stove with a
pilot light. CAUTION: DON'T TURN ON THE MAIN BURNERS IN THE OVEN! Yes,
I'm "shouting" that warning! :-) A further caution: after subjecting
an instrument to any treatment of this sort, don't change its environment
drastically immediately after. If it has been warmed and dried out, to
let it become too cool too soon, or to subject it to extreme humidity
would be to invite disaster.

OK, now let's stand back and await the cries of anguish from the
instrument technicians on the list!

Ed Lacy
*********************************************************************
Dr. Edwin Lacy University of Evansville
Professor of Music 1800 Lincoln Avenue
Evansville, IN 47722
el2@-----.edu (812)497-2252
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