Hydrometer? what is the ideal humidity?

uilleannman · Post by **uilleannman** » Sun Apr 27, 2003 9:58 pm

When I play at work the humidity according to my co-workers hydrometer is 26% to 30%.

What is the ideal humidity? 50% to 70%?

When I play, after about 15 minutes my reed starts to thin out and require more air. Is this a symptom of too low humidity?

thanx in advance....

tansy · Post by **tansy** » Tue Apr 29, 2003 8:06 am

i keep my practice - pipe room about 60%- 70%, never below 50%. the room does not have a return regester in it , so the humidity stays high even in winter when the rest of the house is about 35%. this was something that i noticed when i made it my studio, also it is cooler than the rest of the house ( 10 degrees so ). i like to play when it is cool , couldnae imagie playin out side in the summer.
my reeds would prbably go crazy in low humidity

cheers, tansy

as far as whiskey goes i like that Glenmorangie(sp?) 12 year with a port finish

No E · Post by **No E** » Tue Apr 29, 2003 9:44 am

I think the key is to figure out what the normal range of humidity is in the location where you play, and then set up your pipes to play in those conditions. It's important to try any avoid large, sudden shifts in humidity in either direction.

My pipes seem to be happiest with the relative humidity in the 50-65% range; if the humidity drops much below 45%, I leave them in the case.

YMMV,

No E

Scott McCallister · Post by **Scott McCallister** » Tue Apr 29, 2003 12:11 pm

Wow! 50% humidity. I have an average relative humidity here in Denver of about 15% and in the Winter less than 7% when it gets cold out. (1/2 inch arcs of static electricity from fingers to doorknobs are easy to achieve) I imagine that most of you folks' reeds would look like a half-peeled banana in conditions like that.

ojvoj · Post by **ojvoj** » Tue Apr 29, 2003 12:20 pm

I think you should handle the pipes in any environment.

uilleannman · Post by **uilleannman** » Fri May 02, 2003 1:12 pm

Thanks for the comments. After I posted the original message I set up a humidifier for my case.
It is over 70% humidity in my apartment right now. I played today and it was much better. I played for over an hour without a problem. Booya!!!

Anyhoo, the problem is that I play at an Irish Music School, work, apartment and my house. Each of which varies in humidity.
Any ideas for finding a happy medium?????????

cheers all!

Dafyyd

Patrick D'Arcy · Post by **Patrick D'Arcy** » Fri May 02, 2003 3:36 pm

Isn't Miss Cleo a happy medium?

Okay.. I'll stop now :roll:

Patrick.

John Mulhern · Post by **John Mulhern** » Fri May 02, 2003 4:00 pm

err...not since the Federal Trade Commission slapped her ass with a complaint charging her with deceptive advertising, billing, and collection practice's, in February, 2002. Funny, she didn't see THAT one coming.

marcpipes · Post by **marcpipes** » Fri May 02, 2003 4:10 pm

That would make her a crappy medium. Her work is neither rare or well done.
Marc

tansy · Post by **tansy** » Mon May 05, 2003 9:48 am

you might try keeping a reed at the dryest and most humid locations, or some kind of combination in between that works for you , at least you would know what to expect. with constant daily tweakings you up your chances for failings and accidents. i have a note in the lid of my pipe box that reads " don't mess with the reed "