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Monday, December 2, 2013

The Importance Of Instrument Cleaning

By Angela Briggs


Regular instrument cleaning and maintenance is essential to keeping them in proper working condition. It is advisable to have your instruments inspected and serviced by a professional on regular basis. The inspection is quite important because you will know whether or not your instruments need to be cleaned.

Moisture can cause corrosion on some metals. For instance, corrosion on nickel and brass occurs due to chemical reaction known as oxidation. This reaction takes place in the presence of moisture. This fact clearly shows the importance of keeping your instruments dry at all times. Wood instruments should be kept dry to prevent them from absorbing moisture that lead to cracking. Excess moisture on wood can make it expand and eventually split. Make sure that any moisture seen on the surface of these instruments is wiped out immediately in order to make them last long.

Certain instruments such as the woodwind have pads that cover holes that are used for producing different tones. When the pads become wet, they cannot properly cover the holes so as to produce quality sound. It is advisable that you keep the pads dry so that they can perform their work as required. Wipe out any moisture that settles on them using a dry piece of cloth. This will make them remain dry all the time.

Body acids are also said to be very harmful. They are said to attack metallic musical instruments through corrosion. Some of these body acids are hydrochloric, lactic, and many other acids. If perspiration occurs through your hands, make sure that you wipe it out immediately before it attacks the instrument you were playing.

The saliva of human beings also contains some corrosive acids. A good example is the carbonic acid. You can also find other acids formed from different types of foods consumed. These acids attack the soft solder that is used in most instruments. To eliminate such acids, you need to clean the inside of your instruments after use.

Water is sometimes used to lubricate the rotary parts of musical instruments. You should note that water contains salts that can harm your instruments. If you use salty water to lubricate the instruments, you will see some white substances deposited on parts of your instrument after the water has dried. Such substances can make the instruments not to work properly. It is advisable that you use distilled water if you cannot get oil.

Foreign matter can also affect the quality of sound produced by musical instruments. A surprising amount of foreign materials and that accumulate in wind instruments can cause blockage if not cleaned out. This could also be unhealthy because the food materials can enter into your lungs and cause some health complications.

Corrosion may also occur on piston valves. Foreign materials may also accumulate in the same piston valves. The affected valves may not work properly. Note that valves are fitted tightly and a small amount of dirt between the piston and the casing may cause a lot of problems. It is therefore advisable to have your instrument inspected regularly. You can hire a professional in instrument cleaning to thoroughly inspect your instruments.




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