[pianotech] Extreme dryness

[Jack Houweling]

I have several types of wooden moisture meters in my shop. They are very
easy to read and understand how wood reacts to humidity.

I have showed them to some of the institutions I work for so they can better
understand how humidity affects wood.

 

Jack Houweling   

 

From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Euphonious Thumpe
Sent: Sunday, January 27, 2013 4:50 PM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Extreme dryness

 


One night up in Binghamton, after a week of below Zero F, day and night,
soundboards in very rare pianos cracked all over my house, sounding like
subtle pistol shots. (You may tell them that.) If they aren't willing to
spring for a whole-building system, they ought at least to roll their stage
pianos into climate-controled "sheds" when not in use.

Gordon Stelter

 

  _____  

From: Thos Carpenter <cathomas1003 at qwestoffice.net>; 
To: <pianotech at ptg.org>; 
Subject: [pianotech] Extreme dryness 
Sent: Sun, Jan 27, 2013 3:21:45 PM 


 

From: David Renaud <drjazzca at gmail.com <javascript:return> >

Date: January 26, 2013 2:56:15 PM MST

To: "pianotech at ptg.org <javascript:return> " <pianotech at ptg.org
<javascript:return> >

Subject: [pianotech] Extreme dryness

Reply-To: pianotech at ptg.org <javascript:return> 



   I will be encouraging a music school near Ottawa, and a local University
here in Ottawa to get a handle on their humidity control.

   It has been hitting minus 30s C at night, and occasional highs in the
minus 20's this week.

  One of these places has no humidifiers, and the other little assistance in
that respect.

   I tried attaching a picture, the likes of which I am sending to the
administrators. The picture is of a hydrometer, above the serial  number.

   21% humidity..........

   I would love to attach a list of comments from other professionals in how
serious this level of humidity is, and expected side effects. Comments from
other technicians in Canada, that do similar institutions are especially
welcome. How is your humidity control and how do you/they deal with it?

       Yes I am familiar with Damp-Chasers, have installed many, and will
included the option in my report. 20% is just too dry though, for people
also, ...it hurts to be in that environment for a few hours tuning, sucking
the moisture out of me. I don't know how the teachers manage a whole night.
I feel it.

                                                 Cheers
                                                  Dave Renaud  

 

Hi Dave,

wow, amazing how relative, relative humidity can be.  I evaluated at an SF10
friday for a prospective purchaser.  The room had a humidifier in it so I
was concerned about affects on the piano should it be moved to a drier
environment.  I pulled out my hygrometer and measured between 27 and 28%.
Humidity here in Colorado can fluctuate from 30's in the summer to single
digits in the winter.  Furnace humidifier installers here recommend not
turning it up past 20 in order to avoid mildew.  The school district that I
care for normally will see a fluctuation of pitch of up to 30 cents from
summer to winter on their uprights.  I never used hand lotion until I moved
from Michigan 28 years ago.

 

Tom

 

A FINE TECHNICIAN

Thos. Carpenter - Piano Technician

303.684.6766

www.AFINETECH.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

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