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Re: Tips for surviving first winter?

Author: mschmidt
Date: 2014-11-20 02:46

Just my two cents (which have been much discounted by others in the past): Worry more about humidity than temperature. The thermal coefficient of expansion of woods is small; the humidity coefficient of expansion of woods is relatively large. Cracking is most likely caused by the stresses that result when the oboe does not uniformly expand and contract in all places, inside and out. Since the bore will inevitably experience 100% relative humidity at high temperature (breath temperature), you need to make sure that the exterior never gets too dry. Keep your oboe in your case when you're not playing it, with a source of moisture. Swab out your oboe so that the interior wood does not swell excessively due to an overabundance of moisture.

The only time I had an instrument crack on me was when I left it out of the case overnight upon the instruction of a repair person, who said I needed to leave it put together overnight to compress the new tenon cork he had installed. It wasn't particulary cold in my house, but we were experiencing dry winds. I still kick myself for following the directions of that repair person. A different repair person pinned the crack and the oboe still has a great sound.

Mike

Still an Amateur, but not really middle-aged anymore

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