Klarinet Archive - Posting 000086.txt from 2003/05

From: GrabnerWG@-----.com
Subj: Re: [kl] outdoor theatre
Date: Mon, 5 May 2003 13:39:09 -0400

In a message dated 5/5/2003 11:45:48 AM Eastern Standard Time, nebuckman@-----.edu writes:

> Wood doesn't crack from getting wet, it cracks from drying out. If it cracks, there probably isn't anything you could have done to stop it, unless you out-and-out abused it for the
purpose of making it crack.>>

Nancy, in general you are right, and my earlier comment agrees with what you just said. However, there are circumstances where excess humidity can cause cracking.

Assume that a lot of moisture has built up between the lower tenon socket of the barrel and the tenon of the upper joint. It is possible for the wood in both areas to swell appreciably.

If the wood swells enough to make the tenon very tight, so that you have to force the barrel on, and there is any looseness in the ring on the barrel, the barrel can crack. This is not common, simply because if the wood swells then the ring is probably very tight. But if not, there is potential for cracking.

In very humid conditions, I always try to take extra care to wipe out the tenon sockets of my barrel very carefully.

Walter Grabner
www.clarinetxpress.com

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