Klarinet Archive - Posting 000542.txt from 1996/01

From: niethamer@-----.BITNET
Subj: Re: where do the orange peels go?
Date: Thu, 25 Jan 1996 23:19:57 -0500

> In a message dated 96-01-24 11:32:59 EST, bfogle@-----.EDU (Bill Fogle) writes:
>
> > Large pieces of peel distributed around the case or small pieces
> > discriminatingly placed in the joints? I can see the volume of jokes
> > asking this dumb question is going to start! But I had to ask! By the
> > way, orange peels were the hot topic of December 1994 (I'm knee-deep in
> > archives!).

On Thu, 25 Jan 1996, Teri Herel wrote:
>
> I wrap one medium sized piece of peel in a paper towel and put it in the case
> where it won't touch any clarinet parts - usually in an extra barrel slot
> (just in case the acidity of the peel would harm the finish on the keys...)
> If the peel dries out too quickly, use a bigger piece, or if it molds, use
> less next time. I replace it every four to five days. (I love oranges by
> the way, including the smell of the peels every time I open the case. I
> believe this is the reason I use them instead of dampits.) They seem to keep
> the entire case well humidified.

I place pieces of orange peel over all the tenon corks for both Bb and A
clarinets in my double case, and in each bell as well. Any extras go into
the bin for pencils, etc. I've never had any problem with the peels
damaging the silver plating on my Yamaha 72's

As someone pointed out the last time this subject came up, when they dry
out, you replace them - it's an easy visual inspection.

One respondant to this thread mentioned the dryness in Ithaca NY. I lived
in upstate NY for four years, and had a terrible time in the winter
with dry reeds warping and instruments going out of adjustment in the
extreme cold and dryness. At one branch of the state University system
where I had an affiliation, they kept a large practice room with a
humidifier for the harpsichords and recorders and other sensitive wooden
instruments. The instrument that measured the humidity in that room
rarely went above 30% all winter.

A former repair tech of mine disliked the Dampits for another reason - he
claimed that they were too wet for the good of the steel springs,
potentially leading to rust. He also recommended orange peels.

Now, does anyone have a scientific evaluation of the efficacy of Navel
orange peels compared to Valencia or Temple? :-)

David Niethamer

   
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