humidity and tuning

[rwest1@neb.rr.com]

Mark,

I like this idea.  I've thought for a long time that Dampp-Chaser should
have an institutional model that is just as you describe.  Even an upright
system with a big old external tank.  Who cares if it's ugly.  It just has
to be foolproof and functional.  I think there could be a real gold mine
there.  Is Dampp-Chaser listening?

Richard West, University of Nebraska 

Original Message:
-----------------
From: Mark Cramer Cramer@BrandonU.ca
Date: Wed, 11 Aug 2004 09:59:48 -0500
To: caut@ptg.org
Subject: RE: humidity and tuning


Fred, (and all others)

dumb idea perhaps;

but what might happen if we fit a 10 gallon pail with heater bar and wicks,
connected to stat, elevated up to the beams, filled with water and
H-Treatment, and let it go for 3 months?

I've done this at my home shop (cause I'm lazy, that's why!) during a
drawn-out winter project, never had to refill the pail (5 gallon), with no
noticeable degradation of water or wick quality.

I'm thinking of studio pianos that stay in one place.

BTW, welcome back all CAUT's, it's nice to have a full discussion group!

best regards,
Mark Cramer
Brandon University


-----Original Message-----
From: caut-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces@ptg.org]On Behalf Of
Fred Sturm
Sent: Tuesday, August 10, 2004 1:39 PM
To: oleg-i@noos.fr; College and University Technicians
Subject: RE: humidity and tuning (was health insurance (Fred))


--On Tuesday, August 10, 2004 12:37 PM +0200 Isaac OLEG <oleg-i@noos.fr>
wrote:

> Fred, thanks for that comments ,you remind me that I still have to do
> that before September 15 ;(
>
> I usually let the pitch go down in the last months, but even if I
> allow for pitch to float up a tad, the treble and bass are tuned at a
> 442 as a standard generally.
>
> I was not able to sell damp chaser units in those places, are you
> experiencing suffisent correction due to the judicious use of them in
> some places (or is the pitch change still noticeable ?)
>
> That is sometime difficult to me to see all that waste of time tuning
> for pitch correction, while we know that we need a huge stability to
> really obtain the best tunings.
>
> Best Regards "bon courage !".
>
> Isaac OLEG
>
Hi Isaac,
	I have found that installation of dry humidistats with heater bars has
been the most practical and useful solution for my situation, partly
because I have no help I can call on to keep full units watered. I have a
variance of RH between 10% (sometimes 7 - 8%) and 60% (occasionally 70%) on
a fairly predictable schedule. December through May stays around 10 - 25%
most of the time. July through September there is a sudden rise to 60% or
so. So my main problem is the beginning of fall semester through mid-fall
semester, where I get very sharp pianos prior to beginning of school
followed by rapid pitch drop. The rest of the year, pitch change is gradual
enough I can keep up with it fairly well. The "half units" (humidistats
plus drying bars only) reduce a 25 + cent pitch rise to a 10 - 15 cent
rise. Quite significant and well worthwhile.
	This is based on my own particular set of conditions, and would vary
depending on your own climate, but it probably would be helpful. You would
probably not want the Dry humidistats where you are, though. I have very
good success with full units in private homes, though even there I will
sometimes find variance in pitch as high as 15 cents (more commonly it is
within 5 cents).
	What I really want is the ability to keep the building at a 30% minimum.
Maybe some day (when pigs fly <g>).
Regards,
Fred
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