Tech: instrument care when changing humidity

Subject: Tech: instrument care when changing humidity
From: bet
Date: 21 May 03 - 10:00 AM

I am leaving dry Colorado for the summer. My instruments, violin, guitar, dulcimer will be going to Cardiff, CA.,close to the ocean with me. I am leaving them there while I go to Alaska and then return for the Larks Camp in August. I've heard that woods will absorb the mositure and become "dull" sounding. If this is a fact, what can I do to prevent this. I do know that when I come back home in August I will need to add a humidifier to each case to prevent cracking.
Any thoughts and tips you might have will really be appreciated.
bet

Subject: RE: Tech: instrument care when changing humidity
From: stevethesqueeze
Date: 21 May 03 - 10:41 AM

Hi there

I live in near cardiff in South Wales which is damp to say the least. I find if I put a little sachet of silcia gel, they use it in camera cases and other types of tech stuff, in my instrument cases that that helps. they are about 1 inch square and cost pence. i think they work well for a short period, perhaps 3,4 months at a time and are handy when travelling. Mind you the weather here is nowhere as sever as it is in your fair land. Just out of interest which state is C.A?

best wishes

Subject: RE: Tech: instrument care when changing humidity
From: bet
Date: 21 May 03 - 12:39 PM

stevethesqueeze, thanks for your help!! I hadn't thought about those packets. CA is California. I have a daughter and son that live close to San Diego.

Subject: RE: Tech: instrument care when changing humidity
From: SeanM
Date: 21 May 03 - 02:34 PM

Depending on how "close" the ocean is, you may also want to consider wrapping the cases in airtight plastic.

The humidity's not the major factor I'd worry about if the house is RIGHT up against the shoreline. The drying factor of the salt would be. A drummer for a group I was with stayed a weekend at a "shoreline" hotel, and the head of his bodrhan dried out with visible salt crystals when he left it outside for a few hours. Skin was ruined.

Something to consider. Oh yeah - and the obvious, loosen the strings.

M

Subject: RE: Tech: instrument care when changing humidity
From: bet
Date: 21 May 03 - 04:47 PM

SeanM Glad to here your advice. My kids are about 5 min. from the ocean so I guess salt could be a factor. I guess I don't know about the obvious, why loosen the strings? bet

Subject: RE: Tech: instrument care when changing humidity
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 21 May 03 - 05:33 PM

Bet, loosening the strings is to minimise tension on the instrument when you travel - generally good practice, even if not changing climate. Furthermore, if moving to colder climates, the strings would be likely to contract as they get colder (and so increase even more the tension).

Subject: RE: Tech: instrument care when changing humidity
From: GUEST,Q
Date: 21 May 03 - 06:07 PM

Visiting specialist shops in Honolulu for the first time, I was struck by the use of humidifiers (usually just bottles filled with water and a wick stuck in the top) in cases containing objects made of wood. Along much of the southern shoreline including Honolulu, it is almost desert-like in spite of the beaches just yards away. Rainfall is only 10-15 inches a year and humidity is often low. Just a mile or so mauka (inland, towards the mountains) are rain forest conditions, and rain clouds may be seen from the hot, dry beach strip.

Subject: RE: Tech: instrument care when changing humidity
From: Kaleea
Date: 22 May 03 - 03:55 AM

It's worth a visit to your local music shoppe to procure some little doodads & thingies to put in your instrument case & soak up any excess humidity. Larkintheam has such doodads, too. & you might want to get some extra strings, & instrument polish & put a polishing on before hand--then when you collect your instruments, a good buffing & change of strings if needed & removal of "dehumidifier" gadgets & you'll be in decent shape to play right away! If the instruments are to be indoors in an airconditioned environment, the excess humidity will be likely removed by the air conditioning system. If the possibility exhists that some nosy persons or childrens' curious hands might open your cases, consider exactly where in someone else's home to leave the instruments.