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mcmc Veteran user 310 Posts |
For those who want to prevent tarnishing of their cups, I think having some dessicant packs around would be handy, to prevent moisture and oxidation? What do you think Bill?
We photographers use them liberally, to prevent mold and fungus buildup in our equipment...thought it'd be handy to pass that along here. My work also has to do with computer hard drives so I have a huge stockpile of the dessicant packs they come with...let me know if any of you want some, maurice |
Paul Sherman Inner circle Arlington, VA 1511 Posts |
I always keep a few dessicant packs around the house, just because they're delicious, but using them to preserve props sounds like a good idea. I used to throw a couple packs in my guitar case when I lived in a more humid area. Kept the wood from getting humidity damage. I can imagine there's a number of props that might benefit from being stored in a controlled humidity environment.
For really moist environments it might be good to throw decks of cards in a tupperware with a couple packets. Paul
"The finished card expert considers nothing too trivial that in any way contributes to his success..." Erdnase
some youtube videos |
Bill Palmer Eternal Order Only Jonathan Townsend has more than 24312 Posts |
Dessicant packs are a good idea for things that are stored or in situations where there is no air circulation around them. But in the case of cards or guitars (and I have a vast knowledge of this -- I do a lot of luthiery and I live in an area of high humidity) it's a losing battle. The minute you take the cards or guitar out of the case, the paper or wood starts absorbing moisture and you get movement.
Piano technicians down here had to really fight the guys from the dry areas who kept telling us to put dehumidifiers in our pianos. Air conditioning does the same job.
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups." www.cupsandballsmuseum.com |
Michael Baker Eternal Order Near a river in the Midwest 11172 Posts |
This is interesting. I was curious about dessicant packs, too. I made some final load balls to fit a Victorian theme, and followed a guide on making juggling balls. The balls are filled very tightly with millet seed. I had wondered if I need to do anything in particular to prevent problems with mold.
~michael baker
The Magic Company |
mcmc Veteran user 310 Posts |
Bill - yup, my father makes violins and most shops rely on A/C to cull the moisture. Some places use dehumidifiers as well, though - not the dinky small ones but room-capacity ones (where you pour out a few gallons at the end of the day). It's amazing how much a simple thing like humidity can affect musical instruments (and people as well - I have a feeling most people get sick b/c of simple things like too humid, then mold, or too dry, then dehydration). Bill, do you do piano restoration?
Another thing about dessicant packs is that, once the balls turn pink (for most brands), you have to lightly bake them for a half hour or so, to 'recharge' them. Michael - that makes sense, as traditional Korean pillows (which are hardpacked and put in woven sacks or silk sacks) are usually packed with millet or similar seed. I think they're naturally 'wicking'. The dessicants act differently, I believe - they hold the moisture, not wick it and disperse it away. |
Bill Palmer Eternal Order Only Jonathan Townsend has more than 24312 Posts |
I used to do some simple piano repair. I am in the middle of restoring a harpsichord. I also do banjo restoration and setup. Humidity will affect the sound of a banjo that is not put together properly almost as much as a bad setup. If you accommodate for humidity changes, though, you can alleviate the problems.
We found that some banjos that were made back in the early 1970's, which had Ebanol® fingerboards, were affected very severely by humidity, because Ebanol® doesn't expand with humidity, but the wood of the neck does. It makes for some very interesting problems.
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups." www.cupsandballsmuseum.com |
mcmc Veteran user 310 Posts |
Yup, my dad is very anal about the humidity levels at our home. There's a meter downstairs, upstairs, and two different humidifiers.
Do you (did you) play a banjo for your ren fairs? I'm guess it's anachronistic, but perhaps some earlier form? What is ebanol, a synthetic wood? |
Bill Palmer Eternal Order Only Jonathan Townsend has more than 24312 Posts |
The harpsichord I'm working on is one that belonged to my father. He had that and a Bösendorfer grand in his living room. We had to make sure that the A/C ducts were aimed away from the instruments.
I didn't play any instruments at the renfairs, except once in a while an octave mandolin. Ebanol® is an "ebony substitute." Translation -- black plastic. Well, that's a bit simplistic. It is a simulated ebony. The idea was to preserve sensitive rain forest woods. But the expansion characteristics of the substitute had not been examined thoroughly. It's one thing to keep the instrument in a controlled environment. But one weekend at a bluegrass festival would undo a lot of setup work.
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups." www.cupsandballsmuseum.com |
swatchel-omi Regular user 116 Posts |
Quote:
On 2005-01-20 22:20, Bill Palmer wrote: Geez ! Is there anything you don't know how to do ? I'm waiting to read, " I used to do some open heart surgery, and when I was repairing the defibrillator, I realized that the gel we used on the paddles would make a great cup polish." I think you must be a real wizard, because by my calculations, you have about 67 hours in each day You're the best. Joe |
Michael Baker Eternal Order Near a river in the Midwest 11172 Posts |
Quote:
On 2005-01-21 07:32, swatchel-omi wrote: Considering where Bill lives, that's a good assumption.
~michael baker
The Magic Company |
Bill Palmer Eternal Order Only Jonathan Townsend has more than 24312 Posts |
I'll confess. I'm actually three people.
Seriously. I don't play the trumpet or the fiddle. Regarding open heart surgery -- back in the very old days, when I taught music at one of the local music studios, one of my students was Dr. Denton Cooley! He played the upright bass with a group called, "The Heartstrings." Their theme song was "Open Up Your Heart and Let the Sunshine In." They later changed the name of the group to "The Heartbeats."
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups." www.cupsandballsmuseum.com |
Dave V Inner circle Las Vegas, NV 4824 Posts |
Quote:
On 2005-01-20 19:31, Michael Baker wrote: I haven't seen any mold problems, but I did have a mouse eat my juggling balls. I went into the box in the garage to get them, and they were flat with empty millet hulls all over the bottom of the box.
No trees were killed in the making of this message, but a large number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced.
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mcmc Veteran user 310 Posts |
Ah, 'faux ebony' was actually my first guess, as ebony is what's used to make violin fingerboards, but I didn't recall ever seeing that nice black wood on banjos before. Interesting! as far as I know I don't think my dad's ever messed with that stuff - though I'm sure the adverse effects to the setup are worse for banjo/guitar-type instruments since the fingerboard is more integral to the body.
Wow, a bosendorfer? Was your father a professional piano player? I take it you know how to play the keyboard as well? ... By the way, do you have any video clips of yourself doing the C&B? With all the knowledge you have on the subject, I'm sure you must have a mean routine. I would love to see it. |
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