high humidity (was tapping strings)

[Delwin D Fandrich]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Fred Sturm" <fssturm@unm.edu>
To: <caut@ptg.org>
Sent: April 08, 2002 12:39 PM
Subject: Re: high humidity (was tapping strings)


> Delwin D Fandrich wrote:
> >
> > Actually, holes in wood get larger during periods of high humidity.
Unless,
> > of course the wood is constrained in some manner.
> >
> > Del
>
> I certainly don't disagree, and my experience with teflon bears this
> out. However, I have always noticed that loose tuning pins are looser in
> winter (dry) than summer. My take is that perhaps the crushed wood in
> the hole may absorb moisture and thus make the pins tighter. Anyone have
> a different or better explanation? (Or am I the only one who finds pins
> looser in winter?)


I suspect it has more to do with the relative coefficient of friction
between the wood fibers of the pinblock and the metal tuning pin at various
wood moisture contents.

Del