 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: alaneu
Date: 2014-04-04 04:18
Hello!
I had heard a repair tech mention something about certain types of heat not being good for the wood on my clarinets, but don't recall what he said specifically.
Also, a band I may be playing with soon wants to rehearse in someone's garage. I said I would only play out there if it is at least 60 degrees fahrenheit. They say they will have a propane heater out there, but now I'm curious as to whether that could be harmful.
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Author: Ursa
Date: 2014-04-04 02:27
As a conservator of woodwinds, stringed instruments, pipe organs, and pianos:
1. The type of heating really doesn't matter. But do keep instruments away from heating vents and sources of radiant heat.
2. Humidity control absolutely does matter. Strive to maintain a constant relative humidity of 50% in the area where your instruments are stored. Homes with wood heat can be very challenging to properly humidify.
3. Don't trust ANY hygrometer without testing it first. In a large jar, place a small container with a tablespoon of salt just barely moistened with water, place your hygrometer inside the jar alongside the salt container, and seal up the jar. Leave overnight. If your hygrometer does not read 75%, it is not calibrated properly.
4. Keep your instrument in its closed case as much as possible whenever it's not in a humidity-controlled environment.
As long as the propane heater isn't blowing AT you--you aren't feeling warmth coming from the direction of the heater location--you should be fine.
Garages with concrete floors tend to have abundant humidity.
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Author: ThatPerfectReed
Date: 2014-04-04 02:42
This comes up over and over again and I've had my fill! ![[wink]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie3.gif)
I am tired of people descriminating against clarinets as any less than a wonderful source of combustion for fires of all types be they BBQs, pits, furnaces, or fireplaces, including those running natural gas or propane.
Yes, of course remove the keywork first, but know that the dense and dry grenadilla wood makes for an excellent source of BTUs. Did you know that you can cause a live African Blackwood Tree (from which clarinet grenadilla is sourced) to burn just by putting matches to it?
Try THAT with a saxophone!
=========
Seriously--what Ursa said.
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Author: Funfly
Date: 2014-04-04 16:12
Propane and natural gas burns and produces H2O therefore increasing the humidity of the surrounding air.
Electricity heats and tends to reduce humidity (by raising the temperature of course).
That's why (at my age) you're more likely to doze off in front of a gas fire than an electric one.
I may add that sometimes after my futile attempts to produce wonderful music on my clarinet I think it would be better utilised as fuel.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2014-04-04 19:43
If the basement is humid enough, then it shouldn't be a problem.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Bruno
Date: 2014-04-05 00:46
The danger of propane heaters is not to the damn clarinet, it is to the humans warmed by them!
I Googled "propane and carbon monoxide" . . .
"Carbon Monoxide (CO) is responsible for almost 25% of all propane related fatalities. Carbon Monoxide is the product of incomplete gas combustion often because appliances are improperly adjusted."
bruno>
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Author: cyclopathic
Date: 2014-04-05 02:00
@Chris P
sorry it was meant at OP! why would you be relegated to garage instead of basement?
Either way low humidity should not be problem in Portland, no?
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Author: ThatPerfectReed
Date: 2014-04-05 03:38
All combustion produces CO. Properly ventilated , as most home heating systems are, it's normally not an issue. It's when supplemental heat sources like standalone propane heaters, operated without ventilation, and especially without a catalytic converter, are introduced, that problems can arise.
Of course sticking your assembled clarinet's bell out the window and breathing through the barrel can be used in an emergency
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