 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Ginny
Date: 2002-01-14 03:43
I just got a Vandoren reed holder for Christmas, but I notice it has a container full of some desicant (forgive my spelling... it has a drying agent.) After reading the "cracked buffet" thread I wonder if I should not keep this thing in my clarinet case. I'm in the SF Bay area, and had never heard of a cracked clarinet until reading about them on Sneezy...
Any comments?
Ginny
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Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2002-01-14 13:37
Old wisdom - at least coming from me. Wood instruments come in three types - those that will crack no matter what, those that will crack if not treated well (temperature, and environmental controls, proper oil and water balance in the wood, etc.) and those that will never crack no matter what. Unfortunately this designation is not embossed inside the clarinet to let you know beforehand.
The amount of desiccant in the little plastic tube inside the Vandoren reed case (is relatively small and,) is quickly saturated if you put damp reeds in the case on a regular basis (unless the ambient RH is low which desiccates the reeds naturally). Very few people ever replace this desiccant (because they generally do not sell the replacements where you buy the holders). You just need to monitor the total conditions inside the case with either a dial type meter ($15-$25 for a decent one) or a $1 chemical RH indicator strip which lasts about a year.
The Doctor
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Author: Peter
Date: 2002-01-14 14:53
Doc,
I'm in Florida, as you may or may not remember, and in NY before that, and even though I've never had an instrument crack (thank God for small favors) I'm always worried about the possibility.
Perhaps worrying about it helps to take better care that they don't get in a situation where they might crack.
Anyway, where would you get either of these items you mentioned in your post?
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Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2002-01-14 18:31
Dear Peter,
The dial type hygrometers (RH meters) can be purchased at cigar stores - perhaps someone can suggest a discount source that I do not know about. I sell the little chemical strips, large packaging supply houses (that sell packaging supplies - tape, bubble wrap, etc.) sell them in cans of 100 or 1000 strips per can for reducing RH in electronic parts, etc. The RH meters have a wider range - usually pretty accurate from 20- 80% RH than the chemical strips <30% to >50% RH.
The Doctor
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Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2002-01-14 20:39
I should have mentioned - I use an meter or indicator in the lower humidity ranges for my reed storage box (can be anywhere from expensive humidors to a plastic sealed container). In Florida, or as we discovered in New Orleans, where the RH is pretty high for long periods of time then a RH meter is probably better for the case to keep the horn in the 50-60% RH range - the chemical strips will only tell you if it is over 50% but not by how much. If you live in dry climates or forced environmental desiccation due to HVAC and struggle to get to 50% RH, then the chemical strips are one option. There are no other inexpensive commercial products that I am aware of that would substitue - all ideas are welcome.
The Doctor
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Author: Todd W.
Date: 2002-01-15 19:43
Doctor --
Currently the RH at home (and therefore in an uncontrolled-humidity clarinet case) appears to be about 70%, and sometimes higher. (This according to the dial-type meter sold at the fish store for reptile tanks. I don't know how accurate it is. I'll investigate the cigar humidor type.)
My question is: To lower the humidity in the case, should I use silica gel (like the packets that come with camera equipment), or something else? Any ideas of sources for the silica or the something else?
Todd W
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Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2002-01-15 21:55
Dear Todd,
Again, I sell them, and commercial packaging companies sell silica gel bags in various sizes (they call them units which correspond to about 6 cubic centimeters - e.g. 1 unit, 2, 5, 10 etc.) but in quantities suited to the commercial trade - e.g. 1000's. If you can get some from a camera or electronics store that unpacks floor samples that is good. The only problem with these bags is that they are designed as a disposable item and the silica gel is ungraded and some of it is powder form which may leak out of the packet if there are tiny holes (silica gel dust is toxic and neurogenic). There are pharmaceutical grade canisters which are used in bulk bottles of drugs to keep them desiccated and are in sealed little plastic canisters that do not produce any dust. These latter canisters are more expensive than the bags but are suitable for cases and reed boxes (where you obviously do not want the toxic dust) and are available from pharaceutical packaging supply companies in large quantites (or perhaps you favorite pharmacy when they empty a large drug bottle piecemeal).
The Doctor
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