CAUT

  • 1.  climate control for a stage piano storage room/box

    Posted 04-10-2018 16:57
    What options are there for controlling humidity inside a piano storage box? Piano is used in a small symphony and spends most of its time in a storage box just off the stage. A Piano Life Saver system is an option, but I was thinking it might be easier to control the climate inside the box since it is there most of the time. Currently, the only option to plug in a PLS system when on stage is to use an extension cord. However, they are considering the option to run an outlet box to the floor where the piano would be.

    Any info is appreciated.

    Thanks,

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    John Formsma, RPT
    New Albany MS
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  • 2.  RE: climate control for a stage piano storage room/box

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 04-10-2018 18:33
    Hi John,

    I like the Venta Airwashers a lot. Living in Finland, where RH often is over 80% in August and under 15% in January, I've tried quite a few different solutions (besides the given Dampp-Chasers). 

    The Ventas don't warm the water, neither do they produce any "white mist" (chalk/limestone). In fact, they purify the air. It might be a bit of an overkill for a small piano box, but a good alternative for small spaces where Dampp-Chasers for some reason aren't practical. 

    https://venta-usa.com/





  • 3.  RE: climate control for a stage piano storage room/box

    Posted 04-10-2018 21:49
    I'd suggest MusicSorb. This would be the perfect situation for it. Maybe even a double application if it's a big piano. Two cassettes are usually used but four would probably be good. Here's what I've done on a couple concert grands and it's worked very well. Put black weather stripping around the rim so you create a sealed in area. It sounds weird I suppose but if it's the thinner kind and is black (assuming the piano is black) I don't think it would be noticed. With MusicSorb inside that cavity it works very well. With the cover over the piano and in that box it should protect the piano very well. 

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    "That Tuning Guy"
    Scott Kerns
    www.thattuningguy.com
    Tunic OnlyPure, TuneLab & Easy Piano Tuner user
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  • 4.  RE: climate control for a stage piano storage room/box

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 04-11-2018 11:19
    A good strategy for MusicSorb, if you have a cooperative stage manager or predictable stage crew(s) you can train, is to place MusicSorb bags or cassettes in a sealable container while the piano is in use. Placed in the backstage area, containers serve as a reminder to put them back in the piano. If the bags are left out, the cleaning crew may throw them out or they may get tucked under a piano cover, and they'll quickly lose effectiveness.

    Customers have "refilled" these bags with moisture by wrapping them in wet towels and microwaving (or warming up in an oven). Likewise, dessicated them by warming in an oven set to 160-180F.

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    Mario Igrec, RPT
    http://www.pianosinsideout.com
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  • 5.  RE: climate control for a stage piano storage room/box

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 04-16-2018 23:47
    Thank you all for awakening my interest in MusicSorb. We have a big problem here, in line with what Mario writes about in his book -- the HVAC demands for new institutional buildings refreshes all of the inside air in a couple of hours = quite a frisky ventilation, to say the least. 

    PLS works great for uprights, but for the grands in these buildings, the desired micro-climate just blows away. I've tried the PLS undercovers, they reduce the problem, but not nearly as much as I'd like.

    Then there's always another problem, too, which I think many of us experience: No matter how much education goes into the importance of refilling the PLS tanks, I'd say the bigger the institution, the more likely you are faced with neglected pianos. I sometimes changes pads just to realize that there's been no water in the tank for the last six months.

    Often the person previously in charge of refilling moved on to other tasks in the organization, and the message/routine was not handed over. Other times the PLS led broke, and since the instructions was to refill when the yellow led was blinking, no water went into the tank (I was facing the "broken led = no refill" situation as recently as last week.)

    Is there a B2B provider for buying MusicSorb in the US? I'd like to try them on some of these problematic grands.  





  • 6.  RE: climate control for a stage piano storage room/box

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 04-11-2018 11:30
    If access to an electrical outlet is not an issue, installing a DC system inside the box (rather than on the piano) is a good option. I'd skip the humidification part, i.e. just use  dehumidification bars with an HD controller unless someone reliable is regularly available to fill the tank. Status lights can be installed outside the box. Experiment with the placement of the bars, tank(s), and humidistat so that you don't end up with over/underhumidification.

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    Mario Igrec, RPT
    http://www.pianosinsideout.com
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  • 7.  RE: climate control for a stage piano storage room/box

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 04-11-2018 16:07

    Greetings to all:

                    I recently did an install of a PLS into the 7' grand that usually resides in a plywood "box". Since ac power was easily available, the head of the Music Dept. was happy to go that route. I put the system on the piano since they know they often will have the grand out on stage for 2-4 days continually. I used Velcro strips to mount the indicator panel to the piano next to a leg, Bass side of piano. Then screwed a small wood block to the "box" just outside of the left entry door with the appropriate Velcro on it. The cord is threaded into gap of door and door-frame just above the door hinge. Drilled a clearance hole so cord will not be crimped when door is closed.

                    The watering hose was routed like any other Dampp-Chaser install so it can be stowed properly while out on stage. An extension hose of 3-5' with a 2" piece of copper tubing as a coupler held in place with a worm clamp allows a means to add water without pulling the grand out of the box. It can be easily disconnected when the grand is pulled out for use.

                    Music Dept. personnel can quickly look in backstage to see the green LED is lit and if the yellow one is off or blinking. To water, they merely pull the hose out 6-10"out of the box, connect to the can, empty the can, and disconnect. Done. Might be more work than one may want, but it works for my Community College customer. Of course, your miles may vary!

                    Hey, good luck!

    Alan Hoeckelman, RPT

    SCC Music Tech

    St. Charles Community College

    4601 Mid Rivers Mall Dr.

    Cottleville, MO 63376-2865






  • 8.  RE: climate control for a stage piano storage room/box

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 04-11-2018 16:47

    Alan,

    Excellent!  Well done.  Where there's a will and a willing accomplice...

    Congratulations,

    Ruth Zeiner






  • 9.  RE: climate control for a stage piano storage room/box

    Posted 04-16-2018 12:37
    I really appreciate all the responses! They have been very helpful!

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    John Formsma, RPT
    New Albany MS
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