 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: torvald
Date: 2000-11-26 15:29
How do you use them? Where in your case would you put them? How much?
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Author: Crystal Obrien
Date: 2000-11-26 19:15
Put as many peels as you can fit in the empty areas around your instruments... that usually works out to be about one orange for me. The vitamin C does you good in the winter and the peels sure make the case smell nice. This seems to work since I have never had a clarinet crack on me. A word of caution; don't use peels that are small enough that they can fit into your clarinet's tone holes or bore. Happy orange peeling Crystal
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2000-11-26 21:19
That's funny... I don't use orange peels and my clarinet has never had a cold in winter. Should I stop eating the orange and wrap the peel around my body? Do apple peels work too? How about banana? Couldn't the solvent oils in orange peel attack the finish applied to body of many clarinets? The clarinet could finish up covered in black slime!!!! Couldn't it soften the adhesives used to make the case. But seriously, orange peel oil is a powerful solvent and for this reason is the basis for some household cleaners. Incidentally it is excellent for getting rid of the white marker or 'twink' that some poeple use to name their clarinet case. Apply quickly with an old tooth brush and then wipe off with a damp rag. In my experience the orange oil attacks the plastic of a case far less than any other solvents that succceed in removing the white markings. I haven't tried the oil direct from an orange.
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Author: Anji
Date: 2000-11-27 00:24
I think Sherman posted this in his reference series. Mebbe these should be wrapped in a paper towel and stuffed into a corner?
I'm pretty sure the solvent action of the peel is limited, but it may well adhere to the keys.
I wonder if you might use a kitchen implement to make 'zest' and put that into a small fill canister (without a lid).
This is a great, FREE humidifier.
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2000-11-27 11:10
I reckon if the zest spilt it is capable of softening plastic lining (or fabric) in a case. It is truly powerful stuff.
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Author: Crystal Obrien
Date: 2000-11-29 03:53
I think I'm going against the current opinion here but I care much more about the integrity of my clarinet's bore than its finish or the case in which it is held. If orange peels keep my clarinet from cracking but do take a toll on the case, I much rather replace the case than spend 1/4th the cost of an instrument on getting cracks pinned, tone holes drilled out and reinserted, a new bore put in or the dreaded replacement of an entire joint... ouch. Plus, I like eating oranges thank you.
Crystal
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2000-11-29 09:09
Where is the scientific evidence that orange peels stop cracking. Does it keep the air dry? Or does it keep the air moist? Or does it buffer the humidity to a specific level? If the solution was that simple every clarinet case would be lined with orange peel by the manufacturer, or at least the active ingredient. The likes of Buffet have a secret timber treatment used during manufacture. Some clarinets will never split no matter what you do to them, some will split no matter what you do, and some MAY be saved from splitting by APPROPRIATE attention. Of 7 Marigaux oboes (a top brand) recently imported here, 5 split. Doesn't that suggest the timber quality or treatment is suspect? Can inferior timber be fixed with orange skins? I suggest resting the clarinet under a pyramid, or waving coloured wool over it, or storing it facing Mecca, or at least playing it in a church may do wonders. Worrying about a clarinet splitting is probably just as likely to make it split than orange peel is to stop it splitting! - he says, tongue in cheek. There are hundreds of other home remedies you could try too.
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Author: Jodi
Date: 2000-11-29 18:14
The orange peels simply release moisture into the air as they dry out. I don't suggest wrapping them in towel because they rot instead of dry.
I haven't had a problem with the oil on my clarinet. I try my best not to let the peels touch it. As for the glue of the case, I don't know. My current problem is the case wearing out because the styrofoam is getting worn.
I have found that a film canister filled with damp cotton balls works really well and doesn't hurt anything. I love using orange peels because they smell good (and yes, I need the vitamin C in the winter) but they are messy and I am too lazy to clean up my case after they have been in there a while.
For anyone who says this is all bologne and doesn't do anything at all, consider the following:
I have an Eb R13 that I had to get a new barrel for. The barrel was great for about two weeks, and then started drying out which caused the wood to contract, and the tenon rings kept flying off everytime I took it apart. After bringing the barrel into the bathroom and leaving it on the counter as I took shower, I put the film canister in the case and the wood expanded again. I now just have to keep the humidity up in the case. I keep forgetting that my room is VERY dry (My ten gallon fish tank loses about a gallon a week to the air) and sucks the moisture out of the air, so when the instruments live at home, I have to be careful.
Best of luck,
Jo
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Author: Crystal Obrien
Date: 2000-11-29 20:57
Jodi has just a given a great example of trying a humidity experiment out on her clarinet's barrel. Less humidity in the air causes wood to contract and in turn, the rings on your clarinets tend to lossen. The more drastic and sudden this change in humidity means that the wood has to contract or expand more quickly.
The following scenarios would be ideal for cracking an instrument: flying from Toronto to Miami in January or vice-versa. Another example would be walking from a humid 90 degrees in New Orleans in July into a 65 degree airconditioned theatre in which the humidity level goes from 100% to a mere 20% or less. Unless you let the clarinet warm to the environment, it would be very likely to crack in these situations. Plus, if you don't have some sort of humidifier in the case, whether it be a Dampit as most string players use or orange peels as many woodwind players use, the chances of cracking are even greater. Ask a violinist, violist, cellist or bassist why they have a built in humidity gauge in their case and why they use Dampits and they'll tell that the don't want their instrument to split or for seams to open up. It's that simple. it's not as nutty or esoteric as some may think.
If Gordon (NZ) wants to play the clarinet out his assbackwards, uside down, in church so that it doesn't crack, I say go break a leg. Crystal
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2000-11-30 12:53
WARNING! WARNING!
I am not kidding when I say citrus oil is powerful stuff.
It is interesting that Jodi has a problem with the styrofoam 'getting worn'. Jodi, I can tell you with certainty that your styrofoam has been collapsed by the fumes of the orange oil.
1. I put a thin wipe of 'Citrus Miracle' cleaner conentrate (citrus oil + emulsifier + surfactant) on some styrofoam. Within 3 minutes the foam had vanished (collapsed) in the area to a depth of about 1/4 inch!
2. I folded and squeezed an orange peel over the foam. Within a minute it was pot-marked where the specks of orange skin oil had landed.
3. I put some skin through a garlic press and pressed the resulting 'zest' onto the foam. Within a minute the surface had collapsed.
4. Could it actually be the citrus oil that destroys the surface of a GLASS (!) lemon squeezer??
So get a bit scientific and sensible and leave the orange out of your case!
If you still don't believe me try one of the above experiments.
The fumes will probably also soften cork glue on your clarinet, and case lining glue.
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Author: Jodi
Date: 2000-12-01 14:47
Good experiment.
I don't use peels in my case very often any more because I have the flim canister....
Good to know- thank you!!
Jo
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