 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: KristinVanHorn
Date: 2006-07-25 01:17
Hello all. well i live in the south and it is really humid down here right now and it kind of stops up my clarinet. sometimes some of the low notes won't come out and i have to take it apart and wipe it out. is there a somthing i can use with out taking the clarinet apart? Oh i almost forgot. is high humdity bad for a wood clarinet?
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Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2006-07-25 02:28
Well, welcome to the "dog days" of summer in the Southern US. You really have to choose your reeds carefully during this hot humid time although HVAC in most dwellings keeps the temperature and humidity at a reasonable level. Hot and humid requires removing moisture from the clarinets environment - either through the dwelling environment or with desiccants in the case. In both humid and dry conditions most agree that you should try to keep a RH range for your clarinet in the 45%-65% RH. Reeds also mold very quickly and they should be kept below 50% RH. Frequent swabbing is the only way that I know to keep your clarinet from burbling with heat and humidity.
L. Omar Henderson
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Author: Karenette
Date: 2006-07-25 15:22
I think I'm having lack of humidity issues regarding my new (older) wooden clarinet that I just bought.
The upper joint is wobbly on the lower. Any suggestions would be appreciated. I live in the desert.
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Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2006-07-25 16:47
(Disclaimer - I sell humidifiers, desiccants and hygrometers)
Many people will get a room humidifier or modify the HVAC system for the house to bring the RH up. As with too much humidity causing swelling, too little causes problems of shrinkage of the wood. Again, a humidity range of 45%-65% is commonly considered good. Many people buy case humidifiers for the cold dry winter months but consider a larger environmental space where humidity can be controlled. Buy a cheap hygrometer to tell you RH.
L. Omar Henderson
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2006-07-25 20:58
Omar always says it well, agreed here. In an earlier thread re: DEhumidifying, he made reference to some [?double salt? LOH] drying/humidifying [humidity control] agents for use in a large plastic sack enclosing the clarinet, likely in its case. I believe one could use the "sack method" with some dried silica gel to reduce humidity level to a desired [measured] level. When the gel has adsorbed its max. H2O [hum. rising] , it could be readily regenerated/dried-out by exposure to direct sunlight or by low temp oven drying for reuse. What think you, Omar?. Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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