Klarinet Archive - Posting 000084.txt from 2008/05

From: Paolo Cortelli <info@-----.it>
Subj: RE: [kl] new vandoren reeds
Date: Mon, 12 May 2008 12:47:36 -0400

At 07.52 12/05/08 -0400, you wrote:
>OK, I'm now curious. Paolo says any oil but "mineral oil" applied in this
>way will damage the reeds. Nancy is using reeds treated with almond oil, a
>vegetable oil.
>
>Paolo, if you tried a vegetable oil, what oil did not work well and what
>damage was done?

I haven't tried almond oil. I have a friend who has a very big lot of
experience in chemistry, biology, natural science and the like, and I ask
information before doing something new on my reeds or when I have some
doubts. He said that the almond oil tends to harden inside the reed.

By the way, I asked my friend also about sodium hypoclorite in order to
kill germs, as someone said it damages the cane: my friend says it really
damages the cane, but not as germs do, so it's better to use it. I buy
hypoclorite at 5% and put a spoon of it in half a glass of water, then put
a reed in the solution for 1 minute after playing. Hypoclorite is
poisonous, but after 20 minutes all has evaporated away. And it does
nothing to mineral oil!

Paolo

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