rusted piano strings

[Cy Shuster]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Farrell" <mfarrel2 at tampabay.rr.com>
To: "Pianotech List" <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Tuesday, February 19, 2008 7:07 AM
Subject: Re: rusted piano strings


> I think they are more common in other areas of the country, but I had one 
> church that had one of those "swamp coolers" AC - I don't really know much 
> about them, except that not only do the cool the air, but they also raise 
> the humidity to horribly high levels.

They're common here in New Mexico, where humidity is low in summer.  They 
cool the air by evaporating water, just like your body does with sweating 
(only it doesn't work in Florida!).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evaporative_cooler

I started a tuning at 30% RH.  The customer helpfully turned on the swamp 
cooler for my comfort, and suddenly I noticed it was up to 60% RH in half an 
hour!  So that's one of the first questions I ask new customers: whether 
they have refrigerated air or the swamp cooler.  There can, indeed, be Dampp 
to Chase here in NM.  And it's about the worst case of cycling low-to-high 
and back.

--Cy--
ABQ, NM