Are there any problems buying a wooden instrument in winter? I’m itching to buy some wood and wondering if it could have problems being exposed to freezing weather.
Here is what I suggest make sure the package is signature only and let it warm up in the box for about 20 minutes before opening it then see if it is room temp yet if not let it warm up all the way before playing. I did these two things when I got some wooden instruments a few weeks ago and every thing was fine.
If you have been following the long debate on flute cracking you may remember that the problem with sending flutes in very cold weather may be the low humidity which accompanies it. Dry icy days.
It may be best to send the flute sealed in a plastic bag to prevent it from drying out too much.
That is what I tried recently sending Rama’s flute to protect against humidity change. I dnn’t know if it made any difference.
I’ve shipped and received many wooden flutes and whistles in the winter. Never a problem. I agree with Avery that requiring a signature for delivery is a good idea – that way it won’t sit on your stoop for several hours waiting for you to get home.
How cold ?
What type of flute?
Some one can correct me if I am wrong, but I thought that cracking was more of a problem with lined rather than, say, one of Sweet’s or CB’s all wood flutes.
We have been reading on the other shrinkage thread that flutes don’t shrink enough to crack against the lining tube.
I still suspect that being kept at very low temperatures during delivery in an unsealed parcel will both shrink and dry flutes at the same time.
We are talking of -25 to -30 according to some posters.
It may even be that sudden warming will make things worse !
I’m squarely in the plastic-bag and slow-warming camp. It certainly can’t hurt. And VB, if you live in forced-air or woodburning-stove heat, it might be worth your while to match the general humidity of where the flute came from within 10% or so for storage, at least for a while until it slowly acclimates … just a thought, but … ?