 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: AAAClarinet
Date: 2015-08-04 08:12
Hi Bboard, A question to those of you who use humidipacks.
I remember reading a while back that the rico humidifier packs are the same as the Boveda(brand name?) packs. However when I use the Rico packs they last 2-3 months then get crunchy feeling indicating they need to be replaced. But I've been using the same Boveda brand pack for the last 6-8 months and there is no sign of any "crunchiness".
Are these two packs the same? Are the Boveda packs as affective for reeds as the Rico? If the Boveda pack never gets crunchy, how do I know when it needs to be replaced?
AAAClarinet
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Author: clarinetguy ★2017
Date: 2015-08-04 16:50
I started using Boveda packs at about this time last year, and I'm satisfied with them. During the warmer weather months, they lasted for a long time. In January and February, when it gets very cold here in Michigan and the humidity levels in buildings tend to be low, they only lasted for a few weeks. I don't keep my reeds in an airtight reed case, but if I did, the Boveda packs might last longer.
As far as I know, Boveda packs are just as effective as the Rico ones, and much less expensive. As long as yours is still flexible, I wouldn't worry about it.
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Author: fskelley
Date: 2015-08-04 20:59
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Attachment: DSCs-06346.JPG (148k)
I worked my way through a half dozen of these packs, and my last one was getting crunchy. I was about to order more when I thought to look whether they can be recharged. Turns out that's pretty easy. I know these are cheap, but so am I, lol.
I'm kicking myself that I'd already thrown away all but 2. But for now, 2 is enough- one with my reeds, and one waiting in the recharge tank pictured, sitting on a top shelf in my office. I've swapped them 3 or 4 times now as needed every month or 2- and the recharged one is always good as new. I have no idea how many cycles this will work, but if I ever have to buy another 5 or 10, they'll probably last longer than me.
That's about a half inch of tap water in the outer box, and the packet in the inner open box floating on the water. Water never touches the packet directly. Keep it firmly sealed up. Replenish the water as needed when you swap.
Stan in Orlando
EWI 4000S with modifications
Post Edited (2015-08-04 21:06)
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Author: clarinetguy ★2017
Date: 2015-08-05 04:05
Stan, I tried something similar. I did manage to recharge some packs, although they weren't quite as good as new.
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Author: bbillings
Date: 2015-08-05 18:02
I expect they are exactly the same. The Rico packs used to say "humidipak" but the two companies, Humidipak and Boveda, were really the same company and consolidated under one name. Now the Rico packs say Boveda when you open them up. I find mine last quite a while in tupperware and less time in the actual reed case (after all it gets opened and closed much more often). I keep one in my clarinet case here in greater Phoenix, AZ to keep some humidity with the instrument. Works better than anything else I've found as it doesn't damage the instrument or the case. In fact, I keep them with my guitars as well. They can be purchased directly from Boveda in bulk reasonably for those unwilling to try Stan's recharge idea (good idea, creative!).
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Author: fskelley
Date: 2015-08-06 08:06
First time I tried to recharge I was not patient enough- even a couple of days will not do it properly. Remember that a packet discharges the water it contains over a period of months, so it's reasonable to expect reversing that process to take at least weeks. That's why it works well to have one (or more) charging while one (or more) are in use. And I see no evidence they will overcharge, or at least not in a manner that affects my use. I do have a cheapo Chinese humidistat in with my reeds so I know whereof I'm speaking.
Something else to consider is which is really less trouble- a recharging regimen or ordering and keeping track of new ones?
(Edited to add- Looks like you CAN overcharge these. My swap interval kept getting longer. Last night I swapped and the one in recharge was puffed up fat. So I was not surprised when it made the humidity in my reed storage bag go up from the normal 65-70% to 78-80%. Maybe would have gone higher if I'd let it, and I don't know if that would be bad. But I took the other pack out of recharge- it had only been there <24 hr and was still crunchy- and added it back into the reed container so the 2 humidipaks can fight it out. I expect it'll be fine, but the whole method perhaps requires more attention to detail than I had hoped.)
Stan in Orlando
EWI 4000S with modifications
Post Edited (2015-08-17 21:04)
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