 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: A Brady
Date: 2008-01-18 21:32
Just a quick update: I finally purchased a small hygrometer from a cigar store; checking the humidity in my reed bags containing the 58 percent Reedvitalizer packs, the level was right on the money, and has been remaining stable. This was true on a recent trip to Mexico, where the outside humidity level was desert-like (maybe 15 percent) and the altitude was 6,100 feet, and here in New Jersey, where the Winter level is probably in the 40's.
My reeds have been staying quite stable with this simple system; definitely a cost saver, and it also reduces the amount of adjustment I have to do on them, both initially and ongoing. After removing them from the bag, I dip the reeds briefly in water, soak them in my mouth for a minute or so, and they are ready to go. After playing, I rub them to remove the excess water, place them back in reedguards in the bag, seal it, and they remain quite stable till my next session.
I definitely recommend this product as a very helpful investment, as reed warpage (especially in Winter) is such a major cause of our cane woes in general. I would have loved to have had this available when I was touring all over the world/country, with drastic temperature/humidity/altitude changes creating havoc.
AB
AB
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: claritoot26
Date: 2008-01-19 03:02
I second that. Great product. I need to re-order some of the 73% ones. They crystallize when they need changing. I use the black rico reed case with the reedvitalizer insert, and put the whole thing in a ziploc bag. works wonders in the dry season especially.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ed Svoboda
Date: 2008-01-22 20:39
While I like the product I have found that simply using a plastic zip lock bag with about a dozen reeds and regular playing accomplishes the same thing.
www.woodwindforum.com/forums
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: C2thew
Date: 2008-01-22 20:56
true, but when you want consistency, the reed vitalizer delivers. although there are many alternatives for maintaining the moisture of your reeds, the reed vitalizer serves a definite and precise regulation of moisture in the bag's environment.
I have a humistat #1 in my case that i position next to my reeds for storage, which does about the same thing. the nice thing about the reedvitalizer is that it comes free with the rico reserve reeds.
Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. they are but improved means to an unimproved end, an end which was already but too easy to arrive as railroads lead to Boston to New York
-Walden; Henry Thoreau
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2008-01-22 21:06
"the nice thing about the reedvitalizer is that it comes free with the rico reserve reeds."
-----------------------------------
What comes with the Reserve reeds is NOT a workable vitalizer. It never ever goes hard which is what a real one does after about 3 months.
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Sylvain
Date: 2008-01-27 14:30
I recently bought one as the Boston winter this year has been fluctuating wildly between 20% and 60%. I have been using the 73% for about week now and it seems to work OK.
After reading this post, however, I am a little concerned about mold.
http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=246607&t=246547
I thus checked what was the RH of the little packet used in the Rico reserve reed packaging and to my surprise it is around 30%.
So I am not sure why Rico tells to use 73% for regular use and 58% RH for long term storage when what they use is half of it. I will be watching my reeds closely in the next few weeks and report here if I see anything growing on my reeds...
--
Sylvain Bouix <sbouix@gmail.com>
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2008-01-27 16:12
But why doesn't the reserve packet ever get hard?? It can't last forever unless it isn't really doing anything. Wouldn't it crystalize after being out in the air (it never does, ever!)
How did you check the RH level? (that's what Rico says, but how did you test it otherwise - with a gauge in the bag??)
30% would be fine for transport from a non-played reed, but if you have played the reed than 30% is way too dry as it will dry out the reed too quickly and probably warp it.
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
Post Edited (2008-01-27 16:13)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Sylvain
Date: 2008-01-27 16:40
I have a Hygrometer that I calibrated with a brand new 73% packet, I then put whatever packet was in my last batch of Rico Reserve.
--
Sylvain Bouix <sbouix@gmail.com>
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2008-01-27 16:59
(Disclaimer - I sell hydrating and dehydrating stuff)
The Reed Vitilizer is a saturated salt solution which should last for a while but as with any chemical reaction it is not entirely reversible or 100% effective. For anything to do with increasing or decreasing the RH you should have a hygrometer or chemical indicator strip to tell you what the actual RH is.
The Reed Vitilizer concept is good but in practice the little packets in with the reeds are often "kaput" when you get them. The larger packets seem to be relatively good that come with the plastic tub but again you should have something to tell you what you are actually getting.
The Reed Vitilizer concept is workable, easy to use, but a tad expensive for my taste, for those that do not want to make up their own salts in bulk like me. When the salts crystallize and are no longer slushy they are not working any more. The pores that exchange moisture often clog so there is no moisture exchange with the environment of the reeds however and you think that they are working but are really not - this is where the hygrometer comes in.
The 73% salt packet also would not be workable because of mold for us in the sub-tropical areas like Georgia. For my own regime I dry the reeds and keep them at around 50% RH constantly and then rehydrate them for use. I think that keeping reeds at a constant RH through humidity swings is a good idea however.
L. Omar Henderson
www.doctorsprod.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: claritoot26
Date: 2008-01-28 16:33
Ed Svoboda,
I don't find that to be the case at all, at least here in Maryland in the winter. My current reed vitalizer is used up, and the reeds have gone kaput. Keeping them in a ziploc bag with a damp cotton ball only helped a little bit. Turning on a cool mist humidifier in my practice and storage room helped much more. Makes my skin feel softer, too. :-)
I must replenish my reedvitalizer humidity packets.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: JDJ
Date: 2008-02-03 02:29
I purchased a cigar humidor. It is nice looking, has a humidity measuring device inside and a separate resevoir to hold distilled water for gradual evaporation. It maintains 65% RH all through the dry winter and can hold a lot of reeds. If you need something smaller, Vandoren sells a sort of small humidor for reeds. It has a digital readout of RH. This one also works well.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ed
Date: 2008-02-03 03:31
David B wrote:
Quote:
What comes with the Reserve reeds is NOT a workable vitalizer. It never ever goes hard which is what a real one does after about 3 months.
I added Viagra and mine is fine now ![[happy]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smiley12.gif)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2008-02-03 03:48
"The Reed Vitilizer concept is good but in practice the little packets in with the reeds are often "kaput" when you get them."
------------------------------
The vitalizer packets which are white and not blue are good everytime I have opened up the package (I've opened up a lot as I distribute them for students).
The blue ones weren't as good - tended to have some crystals already in them or even be 1/2 used up! But not a single pack that comes free with the reserve reeds has changed in months sitting out so that's why I'm sure that it wouldn't do a single thing in a vitalizer pack.
Use a real one with the humidity % printed on the packet, that's a dead giveaway that their giveaway is dead.
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: A Brady
Date: 2008-02-03 04:16
Interestingly, I've found that the humidity level in my reed bags with the 58% pack has been slowly rising, usually staying between 65% and 70%; I'm not sure if this is because of the pack aging, but mold can be an issue at this level.
I find the 58% (when it stays at that level) is optimal for me, as the reeds show no mold growth, and require only minimal wetting to be ready to go. It is very important to rub the reeds down after playing and before putting them back in the bag to remove excess moisture to prevent mildew forming.
The small hygrometer which can fit into the bag and give a reliable, visible reading is the key here to monitor the true RH level. I've been generally quite pleased with this product.
AB
AB
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
