 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: ThatPerfectReed
Date: 2014-04-24 17:51
As already well pointed out in prior posts, the Rico Revitalizer Packs, are a technology of Boveda http://www.bovedainc.com/technology/ that were repurposed for the single reed marketspace.
http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=353519&t=353501
This comment is in no way a dig at Rico Reeds, but cudos. They found technologies useful for their business and repackaged them, just like the Lock & Lock 1.5 cup I'm to understand was used as the now discontinued Rico Reed Vault http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=405047&t=405047.
But I digress.
When I say in my title that you monitor the packs, I'm not referring to your need to replace them every so often--much as this is true.
The reason for this post was to talk about the Revitalizer Pack's ability to control relative humidity, and what this means. I speak for science, not Rico or Boveda.
Relative humdity, as many know, is the amount of water in air, compared to the maximum amount of water that such air, at its current temperature, can hold. Still more, the hotter the air, the more moisture it can hold.
So, all other things equal, if you want to increase the relative humidity of a sealed product sitting out on the counter, merely stick it in the refrigerator.
(By the way, the water that forms outside a cold glass is nothing more than the cool air immediately around the glass unable to hold moisture effectively.)
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The moral to this story is that while clearly, the different relative humidity revitalizer packs differ on when then will absorb or release moisture into the air around them, all else equal, they work as a function of the temperature at which you keep the sealed containers in which they reside.
To point: if your reeds are getting moldy in such an environment, buy revitalizer packs that control relative humdity at lower levels and/or simply air out the container in a dehumdified space, close the top, and stick it in the refrigerator. This coolness will increase the relative humidity and get the revitalizer packs to "take notice" of the water in the sealed container's space sooner.
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Author: ThatPerfectReed
Date: 2014-04-25 21:31
Absolutely noted David.
If I didn't make it clear in my post, I am a huge but unaffiliated Rico Reserve fan, playing their mouthpieces and reeds, but certainly not in exclusion to other vendor's similar wares.
Still more to point, as I mentioned, the idea that one vendor's products, often designed for institutional sales, like Bovedas, or even Lock&Lock's (which has a retail component), rather than direct end purchaser consumption, is done all the time in business, is perfect legal, moral, and fair, and provides benefit to the consumer.
Bravo that the tobacco industry is using Boveda's humidity controlled products over say silica gel, which as you pointed out sir in prior posts, are two entirely different things. The former maintains humidity, the latter seeks, if I understand correctly, to soley reduce it. I think we can agree that our friends in Arizona benefit more from the Boveda solution.
I do have a question though. In no way do I take your comments as anything but open discussion that seeks to inform readers of all facts. But in the interest of those facts, am I to understand, maybe incorrectly, that you are, or maybe were a Rico artist?
If you were, I fully admit to not knowing either the extent of your relationship with Rico or what in the way of compensation, if any, that relationship entailed.
If I am incorrect, apologies in advance.
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Author: Paula S
Date: 2014-04-28 00:44
Seriously am trying out the Rico reed case and revitalisers now. Bought the reed case as it can house all my Bb/A, Alto and eefer reeds :-)
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2014-04-28 01:13
Back in College while studying with Gigliotti, he thought that the reedmate, which had crystals (salt, charcoal, etc) was an amazing product. That absorbed humidity, and added it back, but not nearly as well as the packs do.
Vandoren has a product too, but I don't know much about it. The old Vandoren reed cases had a similar charcoal salt material. Neither product had liquid in it (salt solution), so I suspected that it only absorbed water, not added it back.
Make sure that there isn't extra moisture on the reed (the ole dry on the pants move) before putting it in any case.
Paula, if you get the Rico pack at your local music store, be sure to mention my name (and see if the guy pretends he knows of me....;)
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
Post Edited (2014-04-28 01:15)
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