In a bid to lower my electric bill this summer as the temps climb near 100F here in Houston, I’ve installed a programmable thermostat to keep the house warmer during they day when we aren’t home and lower the temp back by the time we get back.
However, I don’t want it to be so warm as to cause any problems with my wooden flutes and whistles. Right now I’ve set the temp to around 82F during the day, I’m assuming that well below what could hurt the flutes.
Possibly a stupid question but I rather ask and look a fool than be wrong and ruin a flute.
Thanks.
In Texas, Eddie…you ask this from Texas !
Probably, the temperature is not so important as the change in relative humidity. Unfortunatly, as the temperture changes, so does the RH for a FIXED AMOUNT of water. This becomes a problem if you store your flute in a sealed container. (as I found out the hard way)
Best bet is a humidor (convince some stogie smokin’ Texan to give it up) and a hygrometer. No problem w/ that system (so far so good)
PS…East Durham’s comin’ Eddie…
Hey Jack!
Right now I’m using a big wooden trunk that doesn’t seal very tightly and keep a slight moist sponge in with the flutes. I normally keep the temp around 78F, so I would hope a 4 degree change would be fine.
My hydgrometer’s battery is dead, gotta replace that.
East Durham, sigh not this year, I just started a new job and it’s a bit early to take a week off plus I just bought a new car since the previous one was totaled by a drunk driver. Fun times.
Sounds ok if your playing regularly…but, get that hygrometer fixed so I won’t worry about you…don’t want it too wet in there either.
I’ll be sure to take care of your ration of (E.D.) Guiness next month as well !
Given that the flute will warm up to near body temperature when you play it for a while, I’d say it’s probably safe to leave it at 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit or even higher (though perhaps not in direct sunlight). As others have pointed out, it’s dryness that has more effect than the humidity.
Terry McGee has done a bunch of experiments on flutes and changes in temperature.
After listening to Matt Molloy, Kevin Crawford, Jean-Michel Veillon, Catherine McEvoy, Harry Bradley, and others, I usually store my flute in the oven at the highest setting for a few days until it all turns to carbon dust and puddles of molten silver.
Ha! Don’t let him kid you. He was playing with “Dragon’s breath” on the morning after the night before. (Probably at E. Durham)
(and anyway, that’s wha’ coomes fra’ playin’ too #$%#@ fast !)
PS: what’s this wit the musical avatars ???
Well, the wife is out of town and I’ve got some time to kill so new avatar.