Author: ohsuzan
Date: 2005-10-10 14:17
Drying up spray is some sort of gas in a small aerosol bottle with a little straw attached to it. The kind I have is made by BG France. Don't remember where I got it, but I think it is widely available -- like at WW&BW.com, etc.
Here's what it says on the package: "Dries up unwanted water in tone holes and on wind instrument pads."
It works, as long as you can actually get the little straw into/under the affected spot.
However, I learned another (and cheaper) trick for keeping water away from problematic keys (thanks to Susan at OboeWorks in Arlington, VA). I kept having chronic water problems in the register keys and in the small tone holes on the upper joint that are closed when the instrument is disassembled.
Susan suggested that when you are putting your instrument away, make a small shim out of a little piece of folded paper, light cardboard, etc., and put it under the arm that holds the key down. This allows the key to stay open while it rests in its case, and, voila, the water dries up much better. I've been doing that for a week or two now, and my water problems are largely a thing of the past.
Very lo-tech, but at least as effective as anything else I have tried.
Susan
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