 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2016-02-16 03:48
I have one more question prompted by the local run I just finished playing of Mary Poppins.
The book calls for Eb clarinet, Bb clarinet and bass clarinet. When I got my Eb clarinet out to practice the part a few days before the first pit rehearsal, I found not unexpectedly that it was showing clear signs of dryness. The top barrel ring popped off immediately, the bell ring was loose and I'm sure the action wasn't as smooth as it could have been.
I don't play the instrument very often - it may have been a couple of years since the last time I had it out of its case. I immediately put Dampits into the case last week and later the peels of some oranges we had eaten for breakfast. But those both dry out rather quickly and to maintain the humidity during months or longer of disuse I'd have to open the case every other day or so to re-wet the Dampits or replace the orange peels.
Has anyone found anything that can reliably last longer in a closed case to keep the humidity level up? Has anyone used the Boveda packs for instruments, for example? Anything else that would retain moisture and maintain a steady level over a reasonable amount of time (a month? Longer?)
Karl
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2016-02-16 05:31
Karl,
I just take a pill bottle, drill a lot of holes, and then cut a piece of sponge to fit. Wet the sponge, squeeze out the excess, and insert it in pill bottle. I place the pill bottle in the place in the case where the MP usually rests and close the case.
I re-wet the sponge every week or so.This really cheap device works just fine for me.
In the summer, no problem but when the humidity in your house goes down in the house during winter, that's when I do it. I do have a humidifier on my furnace but that does not quite get the job done.
You can get a hygrometer at Home Depot pretty cheaply and see what your trends are in the house. I just looked at mine and for the last 24 hours the range is from 28%-32% RH which is OK.
HRL
Post Edited (2016-02-16 23:49)
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2016-02-16 07:03
Thanks for the suggestion, Hank. Does this work any better than Dampits?
Karl
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Author: maxopf
Date: 2016-02-16 07:21
I have a Humistat which works quite well. It doesn't do much where I live in California, since the air has pretty moderate humidity, but I am currently auditioning on the east coast and it brought the case humidity up to about 40% from maybe 10% when it was almost out of water.
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2016-02-16 17:12
Karl,
I think what I have suggested is probably something like a "poor man's" solution. Whether one of the other things suggested is better, I've never had a need to go any further.
Maybe just give my suggestion a try and see what happens. Got any old pill bottles around?
HRL
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2016-02-16 18:05
Oh, yes!!! Lots.
What size holes are you drilling?
Just for good measure, I've ordered a combo pack (humistat + hygrometer) from Humistat. It's cheap enough and feeds into my Gadget Acquisition Syndrome (I hate acronyms).
I have a couple of other instruments that I rarely play, including a rosewood C clarinet that seems especially reactive to dryness. So, whichever solution works best will have more uses than just the eefer.
Thanks.
Karl
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Author: Slowoldman
Date: 2016-02-16 18:09
I have had good success using a combined technique: Except for the very humid summer months, I keep a Humistat in my case. During the very dry winter months, I add a Dampit. I have had no trouble keeping the humidity in the case above 40%.
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2016-02-16 19:56
Thanks. Let's see what the less expensive options can do.
It might an interesting alternative for someone who's shopping for a case, though, because I don't think it's so much more expensive than a well-made case without the humistats (it looks like the same humistat Ed and Max mentioned).
The available plug-in warmer is a little far in the direction of posh, though. I'm just a retired working stiff.
Karl
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2016-02-16 23:40
Karl,
I used a 1/4 drill and did 8 holes (4 high 4 low). Precision is not that important here. I found a sponge under the kitchen sink, cut a piece out, and tried to convince my wife that it was for a good cause.
My best guess is you'll find that in a week the lose rings with be tighter.
HRL
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Author: The Doctor ★2017
Date: 2016-02-18 19:03
(Disclaimer - I sell Humistats and hygrometers)
You should really get a small hygrometer for your case. Otherwise you are only guessing at the RH and it is easy to under or over correct the humidity in the case.
L. Omar Henderson
www.doctorsprod.com
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2016-02-18 19:26
I'm sorry, Omar, I didn't realize you sell them. I did order a "combo" pack, which includes the humistat and a hygrometer, directly from Humistat.
Karl
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Author: Geronimo
Date: 2016-02-18 20:29
KDK,
I recently asked my repair Tec the same question. (My bass clarinet developed some key binding issues) He said orange peels are the best solution. He also added that he dosent like to recommend dampits or other hydrating products because as the wood absorbs the water all is fine and dandy, but as the water evaporates off the instrument it can take the natural oils in the wood with it. And if the humidity is particularly high you run the risk of rusting springs/internal keywork. For some reason when people use orange peels this does not happen. He doesn't know the science behind it but that's what he has observed in his dealings with clarinets.
This isn't to say dampits and related products are bad, I just thought it would be good to know some more +/- for each.
-GM
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2016-02-19 00:13
Hans Moennig always recommended orange peels over Dampits. The trouble is that they're dry within a day or two and I don't eat enough oranges to keep fresh peels available to change out that often.
I've never been very sure of the chemical justification for his preference of orange peels, anyway. I don't know enough about it, but it seems to me that talking about absorption and loss of water is not the same thing as talking about absorption of volatile oils into the wood. Do those oils mix with water (against the standard saying that oil and water don't mix)? Unless those volatile oils in the fruit peels are actually miscible with water, I'm not sure how much one has to do with the other.
Omar?
Karl
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2016-02-20 01:22
Use the Humistat with Distilled water.
Also, make sure to first wet the whole thing in a cup of water with it opened so that the cotton gets completely wet. Otherwise it will take a really long time to saturate (long as it won't work properly for a while).
I'm good friends with that company's owner, and those are the recommendations I gave to him which he tells people.
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2016-02-20 01:38
DavidBlumberg wrote:
> Use the Humistat with Distilled water.
>
> Also, make sure to first wet the whole thing in a cup of water
> with it opened so that the cotton gets completely wet.
David, is that a cup of distilled water?
Karl
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