Tone Protector Question

Kevin Palm · 11-16-2018, 11:10 AM

I wrote to Jori about this, but while I await his response I thought I'd ask the brain trust of the forums about this. When I first got my Tone Protector, the first Boveda pack I used kept it at a rock solid 84%, as advertised. About a week ago, it dropped to 81% and stayed there. I thought maybe the pack was drying out, so I replaced it with a new 84% pack yesterday afternoon. 4-1/2 hours later it was at 81%, and this morning before I left for work, it had dropped to 80%. The humidity in the room the pipes are in is about 45%, and I keep the heating vent closed. Is something wrong with the packs, do you think, or is the outside humidity dragging it down? I still have my old Piper's Pal, do you think it would help if I used the stopper rod from it?

Cheers,
Kevin

Update: I heard back from Jori:

"Thanks for the note. It sounds like your Tone Protector is working perfectly! Small fluctuations are normal, especially this time of year as the weather is changing. Another thing to keep in mind is that the Tone Protector measures relative humidity which changes as a function of temperature. So a little bit of movement is totally normal and expected. You can be confident your reed is in perfect playing condition. The air is drier this time of year, so the packets have to work harder to keep up. I recommend TWO 84% packets in the Tone Protector at all times. I would NOT plug the end of the bore or seal it in anyway, as this increases your risk of mold getting on the reed. The Tone Protector is designed to work with some ventilation.

Here are some tips for getting the best results from your Tone Protector: https://goo.gl/9JwTEp"

Guess I was panicking over nothing!

Doug Walton · 11-16-2018, 12:35 PM

Interesting - the TWO packets thing is something I hadn't thought of. Mine was acting the same way as yours.

Mainebagpipes · 11-16-2018, 02:07 PM

Mine's been doing the same thing. I guess I'll try sticking a second pack in tonight!

Green Piper · 11-16-2018, 02:55 PM

Personally, I don’t worry about the fluctuations. When it gets down below around 75%, I stick in a new moisture pack.

Kevin Palm · 11-18-2018, 02:12 PM

I had actually thrown away the original pack, so I fished it out of the trash when I got home and stuck it in my Tone Protector. The reading went up to 84% and has been rock solid for the past couple of days!

PRAIRIEPIPER · 12-26-2018, 03:36 AM

nope! No mattr what I do I can't get above75%. I'm in Grande Pririe Alberta and the temp is -15 and it's snowing. With an outside humidity level of 85%. But my tone protector will not go above 75%.
What do I do to get to the recommended 84% humidit.

el gaitero · 12-26-2018, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PRAIRIEPIPER

nope! No mattr what I do I can't get above75%. I'm in Grande Pririe Alberta and the temp is -15 and it's snowing. With an outside humidity level of 85%. But my tone protector will not go above 75%.
What do I do to get to the recommended 84% humidit.

Give the reed a reasonably damp lick....watch the needle over several hours.

svspiper · 12-31-2018, 05:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin Palm

"Thanks for the note. It sounds like your Tone Protector is working perfectly! Small fluctuations are normal, especially this time of year as the weather is changing. Another thing to keep in mind is that the Tone Protector measures relative humidity which changes as a function of temperature. So a little bit of movement is totally normal and expected. You can be confident your reed is in perfect playing condition. The air is drier this time of year, so the packets have to work harder to keep up. I recommend TWO 84% packets in the Tone Protector at all times. I would NOT plug the end of the bore or seal it in anyway, as this increases your risk of mold getting on the reed. The Tone Protector is designed to work with some ventilation.

Here are some tips for getting the best results from your Tone Protector: https://goo.gl/9JwTEp"

Thanks for sharing this information. Very helpful.

11-16-2018, 11:10 AM	#1
Kevin Palm Forum Gold Medal Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Grafton, Ohio Posts: 646	Tone Protector Question I wrote to Jori about this, but while I await his response I thought I'd ask the brain trust of the forums about this. When I first got my Tone Protector, the first Boveda pack I used kept it at a rock solid 84%, as advertised. About a week ago, it dropped to 81% and stayed there. I thought maybe the pack was drying out, so I replaced it with a new 84% pack yesterday afternoon. 4-1/2 hours later it was at 81%, and this morning before I left for work, it had dropped to 80%. The humidity in the room the pipes are in is about 45%, and I keep the heating vent closed. Is something wrong with the packs, do you think, or is the outside humidity dragging it down? I still have my old Piper's Pal, do you think it would help if I used the stopper rod from it? Cheers, Kevin Update: I heard back from Jori: "Thanks for the note. It sounds like your Tone Protector is working perfectly! Small fluctuations are normal, especially this time of year as the weather is changing. Another thing to keep in mind is that the Tone Protector measures relative humidity which changes as a function of temperature. So a little bit of movement is totally normal and expected. You can be confident your reed is in perfect playing condition. The air is drier this time of year, so the packets have to work harder to keep up. I recommend TWO 84% packets in the Tone Protector at all times. I would NOT plug the end of the bore or seal it in anyway, as this increases your risk of mold getting on the reed. The Tone Protector is designed to work with some ventilation. Here are some tips for getting the best results from your Tone Protector: https://goo.gl/9JwTEp" Guess I was panicking over nothing! __________________ "Stuff your eyes with wonder, live as if you'd drop dead in ten seconds. See the world. It's more fantastic than any dream made or paid for in factories." — Ray Bradbury Last edited by Kevin Palm; 11-16-2018 at 11:36 AM.

11-16-2018, 12:35 PM	#2
Doug Walton Forum Gold Medal Join Date: May 2005 Location: U.P. of Michigan, USA Posts: 580	Re: Tone Protector Question Interesting - the TWO packets thing is something I hadn't thought of. Mine was acting the same way as yours.

11-16-2018, 02:07 PM	#3
Mainebagpipes Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: Maine Posts: 57	Re: Tone Protector Question Mine's been doing the same thing. I guess I'll try sticking a second pack in tonight!

11-16-2018, 02:55 PM	#4
Green Piper Holy smoking keyboard! Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Colorado, USA Posts: 1,541	Re: Tone Protector Question Personally, I don’t worry about the fluctuations. When it gets down below around 75%, I stick in a new moisture pack. __________________ "Melancholy as the Drone of a Lancashire Bagpipe" (Behn, Aphra 1678. Sir Patient Fancy)

11-18-2018, 02:12 PM	#5
Kevin Palm Forum Gold Medal Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Grafton, Ohio Posts: 646	Re: Tone Protector Question I had actually thrown away the original pack, so I fished it out of the trash when I got home and stuck it in my Tone Protector. The reading went up to 84% and has been rock solid for the past couple of days! __________________ "Stuff your eyes with wonder, live as if you'd drop dead in ten seconds. See the world. It's more fantastic than any dream made or paid for in factories." — Ray Bradbury

12-26-2018, 03:36 AM	#6
PRAIRIEPIPER Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 34	Re: Tone Protector Question nope! No mattr what I do I can't get above75%. I'm in Grande Pririe Alberta and the temp is -15 and it's snowing. With an outside humidity level of 85%. But my tone protector will not go above 75%. What do I do to get to the recommended 84% humidit. __________________ "It works better if you blow into the bag"