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Re: Crack Prevention

Author: RobinDesHautbois
Date: 2010-11-24 17:01

Well, anecdotal evidence may not a scientific principle prove, but there comes a point where increasing smoke must mean SOME fire!

The point that bothers me the most about temperature is the metal ring becoming loose in cold weather... I have experienced that too. If wood does not contract with the cold (expand with heat), then the metal ring would do the opposite. Perhaps sudden shifts in temperature and humidity (drafts would dry up the air), might cause worse effects than gradual changes. There is also the issue of air temperature versus wood temperature: if the instrument is left in the blinding stage lights, chances are the wood remained warm despite the ambient drafty air.

I think there is also an issue with age: I have been practicing every lunch time (in my car) on my 1921 instrument in all types of weather. Last week was constant rain, now its starting to get cold: I'm not too worried about cracks as it has already cracked (who knows how long ago) so terribly that it has 4 metal bands on the top joint. The only "open" crack is above the F# key: not wide enough to bother filling. But I'm still amazed at how consistently (poorly, yet consistently) it performs.

The story about poor oil penetration bugs me. This old instrument came to me so dry, I thought it had been painted: the tone holes were red and the outside black. I oiled it with sweet almond oil and after a few applications, it became apparent that the wood is authentic. It has remained nice until a few days ago: I'll oil it again..... I like the smell anyway!

I'll keep practicing until the sun no longer heats the car enough for reasonable comfort: I'm now wearing a leather coat and cycling gloves (no heater: can you imagine the cost in gas of idling 30 minutes each day?).

Robin Tropper
M.A.Sc., B.Mus., B.Ed.
http://RobinDesHautbois.blogspot.ca/music

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Crack Prevention new

RobinDesHautbois

2010-11-18 10:31