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Just received Fiddlerman Artist with Fiddlerman case. I live in New Mexico, so it's very dry here. I bought the Oasis-26 case humidifier, but the case won't close when I tried to stand it up in the shoulder rest inset (the OG-26 is too tall). Anybody know what case humidifier will fit in that case? Thanks for any suggestions.
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@sf_bev Just wanted to welcome you to the Fiddlerman forum.
Sorry I can't make a recommendation on a case humidifier. I use a Dampit to keep the humidity level elevated during the winter months here in the northeast. I'm sure other members will see this and make helpful suggestions.
Jim
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Thanks for the reply. The Dampit scares me. I know they've been around awhile and lots of folks use them ... but still scares me. 😕
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LOL...I was like that at first, too. What!?!? Put something wet into my fiddle??? No way. But, after using it a few times, I wasn't worried anymore. Watch the video I posted if you haven't already. The moisture stays within the sponge inside the rubber tubing. You squeeze out any excess water and dry the outside off before inserting.
Jim
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With the Dampit, just squeeze it lightly and wipe the outside with a paper towel to keep excess water from touching the inside of the instrument. I've known a lot of professionals that use them.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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@sf_bev and others. Not to cast aspersions, but trying to humidify a violin case with a dampit in New Mexico would be like taking a shower using a shot glass as the means of water conveyance. Technically possible but who would want to do it?
I have been very happy using my home brew case humidifier using gortex fabric and water gel spheres (a dollar store favourite and used in floral arrangements). More information on the thread entitled DIY Violin Case Gortex Fabric Humidifier on the instrument repair topic list (page 9 of same as of today). If interested, send me a pm and I can post you out some gortex fabric.
Success is the progressive realisation of a worthy ideal. —Earl Nightingale.
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@Irv I think thats what the oasis product is made of so sounds like youre onto something. I know when I used the oasis it was made of a sorta gortex type material. I didn't worry about standing it up though. The cap stayed on and I let it lay on its side inside case. Probably not the approved method but it's what I did. Those were the days before the whole room type humidifier I went to.
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I routinely place mine lying down behind the neck joint. Water is contained within the spheres and cannot get through the gortex for a double layer of protection. Some commercial products with gortex material leak through adhesive seams. My gortex is sealed between cap and container. I have used about 12 of them for over a year. The gel can be reused by putting them in a glass container with distilled water.
Success is the progressive realisation of a worthy ideal. —Earl Nightingale.
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What I've found that also worked great in the dead of winter with both violin and classical guitar is a sponge in plastic bag that has had holes punched through it. Some people use various cannisters or fabrics like @Irv did with the gortex and gel sphere idea.
The key to using any of these systems is to use distilled water as this prevents your case from getting any moldy odors. You generally don't place the material in the case sopping wet, just moist. There really isn't any real risk of instrument damage.
I've since switched to room humidification as I realized that my instruments weren't the only things that deserved healthy air.
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Pores in gortex are several times smaller than a bacteria or fungus. If the bottle, gel and gortex were sterilised (microwave, chlorine solution, or alcohol) before use, it would be extremely difficult for bacteria or mildew to grow in the humidifier.
Success is the progressive realisation of a worthy ideal. —Earl Nightingale.
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I have been reading up on best practices for maintaining proper humidity for your instrument. Most sites agree that room humidity is the best way to control this, as it keeps your instrument in a consistent humidity range and avoids drastic changes, which has the most negative affect on the instrument.
- Pete -
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Yeah, I'm a bit mystified by these threads. Presumably, if you live in Mew Mexico, you live in climate-controlled accommodation (unless you are unlucky) with 50% humidity inside, and what's good for you is good for your fiddle. If it's 1% humidity outside, so what? If you take your fiddle outdoors, take it out in an airtight container.
Andrew
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@Gordon Shumway
I see what you did there.... mystified (mist-ified) LOL
- Pete -
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Gordon Shumway, I'm pleased to say that our home in New Mexico has both heat and air conditioning, but neither of those humidifies. We have been having daily summer rain, and the room humidity reads 50-55%. My worry is that we go through periods of drought, and winter is quite dry. I'm trying to get set up now, so that when winter comes, my instument will only be exposed to some dryness when taken out of their cases for practice.
We recently bought a mandolin locally, and were advised at purchase to add an Oasis humidifier. They through it into the deal, so they weren't trying to make more money off of us. We are assuming that the local music instrument store that's been in business for many years knows something that made them recommend a case humidifier (at least until we humidify the room or house).
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I know that, the colder air is, the less humidity it can hold, but indoors? You have heating and no humidity? It might be best to get a room humidifier and keep your violins out in the room.
Andrew
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I've seen quite a few cases with built in humidifiers. They consist of a bottle with a sponge to hold water with an opening to allow some moisture to escape. The opening is adjustable. I'm sure it would be quite easy to make your own.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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@Fiddlerman
It is very easy to make these humidifiers... Take a plastic travel soap container and just drill or poke some holes in it. Then dampen a sponge and place it inside the container. Voila!! An instant humidifier that fits inside a violin case!
- Pete -
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Bingo 😁
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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You may remember the thread where I mistook a humidifier for a string tube. I've just gone back to it, and the picture is a dead link now, so don't bother.
Andrew
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I wonder if a panty liner would work - those types with gel that stay "dry". Sorry to be close to the knuckle, but it wouldn't take up much room, by design.
Andrew
Verified human - the ignominy!
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