 The Oboe BBoard
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Author: oboi
Date: 2012-02-09 06:19
I recently bought 2 humistats and this is my 1st try at using them. One is sort of leaky and I can barely fill before it totally drains, the other okay. Anyway, I just noticed that the leaky one (and the other one to a lesser extent) has tiny black specks on the spongy part. Is this mold?? I read in the clarinet thread that one solution is to soak them in vinegar then thoroughly rinse. Just wondering if anyone noticed that in their humistats. The water doesn't seem to last too long, either (mind you, I'm in the land of extreme dryness here). I have one of those cigar water pillows in another of my cases, which I've used for a year and I've never had any mold problems. Plus that kind takes months to dry out.
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Author: kimber
Date: 2012-02-09 15:58
I know what you are talking about. My three newer Humistats (2 small, 1 larger) all have specks/spots after a couple months use. Never had that problem with my older ones. Don't know what or why is is happening. I will probably start ordering some of the water pillows to try instead.
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Author: GoodWinds ★2017
Date: 2012-02-09 19:09
the only thing I know that kills black mold is a mixture of dishsoap and bleach: and use in a well-ventilated space because they interact and give off quite the toxic fume.
I would recommend throwing such items out; mold is very hard to eradicate.
mary RN
GoodWinds
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Author: oboi
Date: 2012-02-09 21:40
Hmm, I will try the soap/bleach concoction first, as I've only bought these humistats 1 month ago!! They should last longer than that!
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Author: ohsuzan
Date: 2012-02-10 02:37
@oboi: you say you are using the "Water Pillows" in another case, with no problems. Why not just use them in all your cases?
As I have written before, I have used a Humistat, with no apparent benefit. The Water Pillows work, are cheap, are easy, and non-problematic.
Why try to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear, when you have a superior alternative?
Susan
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Author: oboi
Date: 2012-02-10 02:52
The water pillow came with my oboe. Now that I have new instruments, I needed another humidifier and perhaps tinier alternative. One of these days I'll probably see if a cigar shop has them or order some off Ebay. I have no idea if either actually "work" as I've not used a hygrometer. What I do know is that the ring on my EH bell is still awfully loose. Speaking of which, I'll experiment and stick the pillow in the EH case and see if there is any noticeable difference on the bell ring.
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Author: GoodWinds ★2017
Date: 2012-02-10 04:28
I use a 'guitar' humidifier in my bass clarinet case; I don't use any moisteners for the oboes, never have; just warm them up well before playing, and dry them thoroughly before closing the case.
Seems to be a difference of opinion with this and with oiling a bore.
GoodWinds
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Author: ohsuzan
Date: 2012-02-10 13:43
I used a Humistat in my wooden Covey oboe case, with a hygrometer in the case, for a couple of years. I never saw any difference in the internal humidity vs. ambient humidity of the room, and the bell ring always got loose in the winter.
This year, the bell ring got loose, right on schedule, in December. I put one of the Water Pillows in the case, and within two weeks, the ring was snug again.
I haven't used a hygrometer this time, but I do have the evidence -- no more loose bell ring!
One can buy them on Amazon, Ebay, and from a variety of tobacconists.
Susan
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Author: Bobo
Date: 2012-02-10 14:49
I use the humistats also, and the spongy filter does get discolored (mildew/mold), though I haven't seen that this has had any impact on their function. Having said that, I have serious doubts about how much they help. I keep a dial hygrometer in my oboe case with the humistat propped up next to it, both in the reed case slot (I keep the reed case in an outside pocket of the computer bag I use to carry my oboe case etc. around - better for handy access to wet / change / work on reeds). The hygrometer moves from about 60% in the summer heat to about 40% in the dead of winter dry radiator heat. I think the humistat is moving the needle maybe 5%! I still use it, but may try out the water pillows. My only concern is that from what I can see online, tobacco does best at 60%+ humidity and some advertise that the pillows keep the humidor at 70%. I think too much moisture is not so great either (for the springs and corks), but still worth a try with a hygrometer.
I also wonder whether a humistat or pillow in the reed slot actually has any effect at all on the adjacent oboe joints, but that's another issue. The dampits that go inside the joints would seem more effective, but I've never been comfortable with leaving anything wet inside my oboe.
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Author: GoodWinds ★2017
Date: 2012-02-10 16:43
"I've never been comfortable with leaving anything wet inside my oboe."
...especially something that has mold on it, which can invade the wood and we would not want that to happen...
GoodWinds
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Author: kimber
Date: 2012-02-10 16:54
Quick home test last night with my humistats. Both full large vs. small humistats were able to change the humidity in a quart ziplock bag holding a hygrometer from 32% to 66-68% at a 1 hr check. In a two gallon size bag, the small humistat changed from 32% to 42% and the large humistat changed from 32% to 50% at the 1 hr check.
Looking back today - I's curious enough to try adding some absorbable material in the bags to simulate the textiles/wood in a real case and compare humidity readings.
Obviously size of case vs. humidifer output is a critical factor.
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Author: cjwright
Date: 2012-02-11 04:53
As a cigar aficionado and someone who constantly is watching my hygrometers in my humidors, I'd like to recommend considering getting some drymistat sticks with some propylene glycol. It's what a lot of cigar smokers use because propylene glycol doesn't create mold like distilled water can tend to. One stick will usually cost you about $7 or $8 in a cigar shop, and a big bottle of propylene glycol will cost you about the same, but would last years for the amount you use for one stick.
The sticks have chunks of a thick jelly-like substance (which is actually made of propylene glycol as well) and when you add more propylene glycol, they just soak it up, get bloated, and store moisture for 4-5months on end. When they begin to dry up and get a bit smaller, you just a pour a little bit more in and put them back.
Just one note: we generally think that more moisture = good, but you CAN over-humidify your instrument. Wood is porous, and therefore absorbs and "breaths" moisture in and out, which helps prevent mold, but if you overflood it, it can't "breath out."
Anyways, just my two cents. Off to burn my evening stick!
Blog, An Oboe In Paradise
Solo Oboe, Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra
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Author: theoboefairy
Date: 2012-02-13 03:32
Hi Oboi! If you email me your contact mailing info; I will happily mail you two complementary water pillows. I believe in them and do not use the tube humistats anymore in my personal instruments, as well as the with instruments I sell. Thanks, hannah "the oboe fairy"
hannahsoboes
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Author: GoodWinds ★2017
Date: 2012-02-13 05:37
oboe ANGEL is more like it, Hannah. (Although I do believe in faeries)
GoodWinds
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Author: Bobo
Date: 2012-12-01 15:38
My humistats are black with mold, so I just bought 10 water pillows for around $7 on Amazon. Question, is it really important to use distilled water for these, or given the price, just toss them out once every few months? I filter my drinking water, so I'm wondering whether that shouldn't be good enough.
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Author: oboi
Date: 2012-12-01 22:43
I just use regular water. Sometimes I use boiled water, sometimes I use tap water, sometimes I use filtered water. The only thing I haven't used is softened water (I have a water softener), although I have no idea if that would make any difference, either. None of them have grown any weird things and I'm not too concerned about emissions from tap water (I'm sure my breath or all the lotions I put on my hand have a larger chemical effect on the wood).
Since the heater is going almost non-stop and will be so for the next few months, I have 3 water pillows in my EH case since the bell ring is getting loose again. I have 1 in the oboe case. 2 in the cloth bag for the baroque oboe. 1 in the travel double case. I've left them for months at a time in the travel case without opening and I have not noticed any mold.
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Author: Bobo
Date: 2012-12-01 23:06
Thanks, oboi! How often do you have to refresh the water in each one?
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Author: oboi
Date: 2012-12-01 23:37
It kinda varies, but I guess every 2-3 months. I rarely let it dry up much, though. The drying rate varies a lot, I've noticed. Maybe it has to do with instrument usage or the weather (also the case!). It's currently below 40% humidity in my room where the instruments usually are. Much drier outside and I'm sure in the rehearsal hall. I just filled them a few days ago and I recall doing it fairly recently. In the summer, when the humidity hovered around 45%, I recalled that I wondered why I still hadn't had to fill it up in such a long time. I am also a maniac for swabbing my instrument, so I'm sure there is very little residual moisture when I pack it up.
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