humidity

Irish Flute
1

My wife and I between us have an antique flute, two antique piccolos, two Irish flutes, and four wooden whistles (hopefully with a few more coming sometime). We have a room that’s kind of devoted to all our instruments (harps, dulcimers, a cello). The first question is: what would be the optimum humidity for all these? Should the optimum for the flutes be the same as that for the harps, in which case a room humidifier would be the best way to go?

If the flutes require more, than I ought to make a humidor for them. Any of you out there who have done this, what did you use? I would like to make one from wood, possibly with a glass front so that it could be a display case, although that’s not really necessary. Am I right to assume that wood would need to be sealed well? My experience is that urethane stinks for some time, which would probably make the flutes and whistles stink too. Any good sealers that don’t stink? Maybe enough coats of shellac? Just let the urethane cure for a really long time?

Thanks in advance, Charlie

2

Hey Chaz:

Flutes will require more humidity control that instruments like cellos. 50-60% relative humidity will be fine, but you can go higher if you feel more comfortable. You’ll know if the humidity is to high when you start getting fine green growths in the bore of your flutes!

I used to live in Seattle, and it was almost always 45% relative humidity in my basement and I never had a problem with cracking and the like.

You can always get the small humidifiers like Damp-Its if you are concerned as well.

You’ll be fine.