Klarinet Archive - Posting 000246.txt from 2005/08

From: Bill <wde2@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] salt and mold growth
Date: Sun, 14 Aug 2005 15:29:55 -0400

For what it's worth, rock salt in a nylon stocking will do an excellent
job of DE-humidifying, not humidifying. Remember that salt mines are
about the driest places on earth. The salt is effective because it
sucks all the moisture out of the air and holds onto it. Molds and all
microorganisms are dependent on moisture to grow, and the amount of
moisture available is designated by the term "water activity,"
symbolized as Aw (w in subscript). When it's below the minimum Aw for
an organism, that organism just can't grow. It's why dried dog food
doesn't have mold growing on it. So if you want to actually humidify,
you'll have to go back to using orange peels or whatever. I would
think that the rock salt might possibly dry out the wood more than
you'd want, and I'd be very leery of using it for that reason.

On another note, Clark Fobes mentioned some time ago a vented barrel
for the Eb clarinet, and I was wondering if anyone (including Clark)
had any further explanation or experience with this. I'm quite
interested in trying it.

Bill Edinger (a microbiologist, which is why I know about Aw and
mycological things)
________________
Music and wine are one.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

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