 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2008-06-04 12:15
If the storage room for a Clarinet is cold and humidified, is that ok?
For instance if I kept my studio in the winter nights closer to 50 degrees with a humidifier running, would that be ok? The humidity would be there, but not much heat. My studio is the colder part of the house so if I had my home at night at 58 downstairs, my studio would be closer to 53.
Would of course warm it up during the day, but would that temperature be bad for the instruments?
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2008-06-04 13:37
I believe that the answer to the question lies in the idea that it is how rapidly the instruments warm up that will most likely determine will they crack.
I think that if the room was a cool as you describe and you immediately pull out one of the horns at 7:am and start playing away you're asking for trouble.
If your back up horn were to go for two months like this, I would take a day or two to get it back to warmer average temp. Perhaps keeping in a warmer part of the house.
That's my two cents.
James
Gnothi Seauton
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2008-06-04 15:29
I guess I hadn't considered that, and I really don't know enough about their properties to waste time guessing!
But wouldn't the corks themselves expand back to original (or would they)?
James
Gnothi Seauton
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2008-06-04 15:46
I don't see any reason why cold in itself would be harmful to the horn. I also agree with James on the rapid change if you grab a cold axe though.
As for humidity, I make a point about ensuring proper humidity mainly with regard to the playability of reeds - I find 60%-70% to be ideal (for me). If you are not running the heater like gangbusters and drying up all the air, you might even run into OVER humidifying if you don't keep an eye on the hygrometer.
................Paul Aviles
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2008-06-04 15:51
The reeds will always have the right humidity - have a thing that keeps the humidity constant.
So it's just temperature that I wonder about. I know that gradual is the key, but is there a point which the temperature just isn't good for the instrument being in it for any period of time?
I'd assume big time that in the 30's would be suicide for a Clarinet to be in for a long time.
or not, maybe cold doesn't do anything to it? (assuming gradual warm up)
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
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Author: BobD
Date: 2008-06-04 17:27
You asked so I'll give you my opinion: I think that's too cold for any instrument on a repeated regular basis. You have not only the wood to consider but also the metal work.....posts shrinking in wood etc etc. If you were asking about maybe a one time exposure followed up by gradual warming I wouldn't be too concerned.
Bob Draznik
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2008-06-04 17:44
Pa - I'm on my computer sometimes and blackberry at others.
All Blackberry postings make it look like Canada.
Ironic that it's Waterloo as that was where Abe Galper's books were published and I was business partners with him (still am with his company).
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2008-06-04 20:56
David, 53 degrees, brrrrrrrr! I don’t think it would hurt the horns but it will take a lot longer to warm them up and I don’t recommend it. I have one of those electric heaters that uses oil to heat up and looks like a radiator. I keep it set on almost the lowest setting so it doesn’t use much electricity. That depends of the room size of course. That way my room with my clarinets and reeds never gets too cold. I keep the door to my studio closed at all times during the winter. I try to keep that room about 68 –70 degrees night and day. I think that’s best for them. I keep my house at 66 during the day and 60 at night. Take care, ESP www.peabody.jhu.edu/457
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2008-06-05 02:16
Hi,
Now everyone has me thinking. I routinely keep backup-backup instruments in an unheated attic that is always dry but the humidity is just like outside. Over the years, I have never had any problems when I get the instruments out of the attic but i let things warm up slowly.
It would seem that the crux of the matter would be is this just an overnight thing or long-term. It seems that David is talking about just an overnight situation and my "street-sense" tells me that that would probably subject any instrument to a lot of molecular stress.
When I was flying professionally, we would routinely take corporate jets to high altitudes where is was really, really cold with no ill-effect (yes, we had fuel heaters or used Prist). However, when there is sufficient time to the airframe to become entirely cold-soaked there could be problems. My guess is structural changes but if one lets things slowly warm, there are usually no ill-effects.
Here's a little article to read http://www.gi.alaska.edu/ScienceForum/ASF7/743.html It's not exactly what David is looking for but...
HRL
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Author: seafaris
Date: 2008-06-05 15:27
Why not just keep your clarinet(s) in the warmer part of the house when you are not using them?
...Jim
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2008-06-05 18:10
I know that the 100 plus degrees (Farenheit) here in Texas will ruin one in a hurry--especially if exposed to sun during that time. I'm sure extreme cold would do the same. However, 50s isn't extreme and it might be tolerable. You should ask Tom Ridenour or Morrie Backun or Doc Henderson. They've done some research on the matter.
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Author: seafaris
Date: 2008-06-05 20:15
My experience is as a wooden boat owner and amatuer wood worker. We deal with temperature/humidity extremes with hard woods and tight joints. In my experience I would worry more about the hot extremes of summer (especially direct sunlight) and any very low humidity. Maybe some sort of cabinet that all the instruments could fit in would be easier to control than a room.
...Jim
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Author: BobD
Date: 2008-06-05 20:42
I store my clarinets in large plastic storage boxes....anywhere from 3 to six per box. I keep a humidity meter inside the box.
Bob Draznik
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Author: BobD
Date: 2008-06-06 13:16
Probably 8 but they don't get the preferential treatment......
Bob Draznik
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Author: Molloy
Date: 2008-06-06 15:15
What I've heard is that hot-and-dry and cold-and-wet are the *bad* combinations. My experience is that cool, moist conditions lead to mildew.
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2008-06-06 15:18
I don't imagine that too much mold can be found in Pennsylvania basements during the winter months...
James
Gnothi Seauton
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