Klarinet Archive - Posting 000330.txt from 1995/12

From: "Daniel A. Paprocki" <dap@-----.US>
Subj: Re: bleach/reeds
Date: Wed, 13 Dec 1995 10:59:09 -0500

This might be a new idea but if your reeds are in such sad shape that they
need to be cleaned why don't you just throw them away and work in new ones.
No chemicals to worry with although you would have to spend money on new
reeds - yes money!! You could start a reed museum - someplace to admire
that reed that got you through Beethoven 6 & 8 - in one concert!

Dan

> Bleach is sodium hypochlorite (usually about 2-5%), which IS a
>chlorine compound. ( Swimming pool "chlorine" is calcium hypochlorite.)
>When this compound decomposes, it releases the chlorine as the gas we all
>know and love! ( Anyone who has worked with swimming pools knows that
>sunlight will do the job nicely!) Thus, yes, when it "dries", the chlorine
>will be gone. Also, it's probably a good idea to rinse very well (you
>might get rid of the chlorine, but you could be left with salt deposits.)
>Also, rinsing would dilute anything that might be left down to "safe"
>levels (we all know that there's chlorine in our water, anyway; just a very
>small amount.)
> I'd never thought of bleaching reeds - I've always just boiled
>questionable reeds in a pot of water. I dont see a problem, though, as
>long as you make sure you get rid of the bleach afterwards!
> (P.S. Hydrogen peroxide decomposes into oxygen and water, for those
>of you who were wondering. The bubbling is actually due to an enzyme called
>peroxidase, which breaks down peroxides.)
>
>-Scott
>
>Scott D. Morrow
>(410)-955-3631
>
>SDM@-----.edu

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Daniel A. Paprocki
dap@-----.us

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