Moldy Flutes and Asthma - A Cautionary Tale

[cocusflute]

Any fluters out there playing moldy flutes?
I recently had an interesting albeit terrifying experience as a result of playing flutes that had been kept in a damp environment. The cases and the flutes gathered some mold.
The result was an allergic reaction culminating in an asthma attack and a visit to the E.R. The file runs about ten pages. I will email it to anybody who is interested.

[Doug_Tipple]

It so happens that the ideal temperature and humidity that is good for the preservation of wooden instruments is also good for the accumulation of mildew and mold, especially if the instruments are kept tightly enclosed in a case. I think that the idea situation is where you are able to keep a room at the ideal humid conditions. That way the instruments can be left out of the case so that they can air out, which will help prevent the formation of mold. I hate to play violins that have been kept in a case in the summertime. The inside of the violin can easily get moldy, and it is difficult to correct the mold problem.

[Loren]

As a fellow asthmatic, I'd be interested.


Loren

[Terry McGee]

As a flute player (non-asthmatic fortunately) moving to a more humid clime*, I'd be interested too, thanks Cocuswood.

I'd also be interested to know what conditions the flutes were being stored in, and how they were being maintained (swabbing etc). Was it just an inevitable outcome of the local climate (ie, do things other than flutes also gather mould?) or was it because of some poor maintenance or storage issue (like not swabbing out after playing, or keeping them in the basement?)

* Hurrumph. The definition of a "more humid climate" around here these days is that they sometimes actually get rain!

PS Those wishing to follow the exciting story of moving McGee-Flutes 100 miles east and 2000 ft down can do so starting at:

http://www.mcgee-flutes.com/Relocate.htm

Warning: daytime free-to-air television may be more engaging!

[peeplj]

I am also interested.

Please consider posting your full story here.

--James

[Dave Parkhurst]

Being a health care provider, I suggest that any well-playing flute with mold problems, especially a Grinter, McGee or Abell, be shipped to me for inspection and disinfection.
heh heh heh....
Dave

[cocusflute]

Can one post a nine page article here? The file is 48 KB.

[Denny]

Dale posted this in the Announcements Forum.

http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?t=42243

[peeplj]

Dale posted this in the Announcements Forum.

http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?t=42243

True, but I don't think it applies to a previously unpublished article which you wrote yourself.

If I understand things correctly, cocusflute's article is his post-mouldy-flute E.R. experience. If he wrote the thing surely he can post it.

--James

[Denny]

Dale posted this in the Announcements Forum.

http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?t=42243

True, but I don't think it applies to a previously unpublished article which you wrote yourself.

If I understand things correctly, cocusflute's article is his post-mouldy-flute E.R. experience. If he wrote the thing surely he can post it.

--James

I'd forgotten!

So you think that I should wait for the coffee to finish brewing before posting, eh?

[peeplj]

I'd forgotten!

So you think that I should wait for the coffee to finish brewing before posting, eh?

No worries!

Many times I have done much worse things before the coffee hit.

Fact is, I should pretty much be banned from posting in the 11pm - 6 am range.

--James

[Denny]

I remember a few from both of us!

I'd say post it and see if the server crashes!

[cocusflute]

http://www.firescribble.net/myownage.pdf

Thanks to Brad Hurleyt for the accomodation.

[Denny]

Thanks to both of you.

Very well told tale, deserves a link on any wind instrument site, especially one dedicated to wooden instruments

Thank you again,
Denny.