rain x?

East End Piper · 03-20-2012, 07:37 PM

has anyone tried rain x on some synthetic reeds? just a thought. haven't tried it yet but figured i would ask around. could be worth a shot, ya never know how it can work out.

William McKenzie · 03-21-2012, 04:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by East End Piper

has anyone tried rain x on some synthetic reeds? just a thought. haven't tried it yet but figured i would ask around. could be worth a shot, ya never know how it can work out.

You're thinking like as a way for the moisture to quickly bead and roll off?

I used to use Rain-X on all my vehicles over the years. In the NW here there's almost always at least a drizzle for a few months straight and the Rain-X was so effective I could get away with driving past 30mph without needing wipers. At slower speeds the tiny droplets would collect together and repel off the windshield all by themselves. Pretty brilliant stuff actually.

I'm not sure you would be able to apply it on reeds though, it takes a lot of work. First by thoroughly cleaning the surface from oils and grime, then applying a thick layer of the product over the entire surface. After that sort of cures you have to buff it all out (which is its own kind of fun) until it's completely worked into the glass and non visible. Usually you have to apply another coat on top of the first one to make up for uneven or missed spots.

The only way I could see this working on drone reeds would be to remove the tongues and apply the Rain-X to the body and then separately to the tongues. You'd have to gently re-position the tongues back into the reed body without rubbing off all your hard work from either piece. Possible, but tricky.

I'd say go for it and let us know. If it works out then you might just a piping genius! Never having to worry about moisture under the drone reed tongues would be epic.

Randy McIntosh · 03-21-2012, 04:33 AM

I would think that if you had enough moisture to think of using a product like Rain X..there is a bigger issue at hand!

Patrick McLaurin · 03-21-2012, 07:14 AM

I bet you rainx will dissolve your reed.

Donald · 03-21-2012, 08:28 AM

I hope somebody tries Rain-x and informs us of the outcome. Perhaps this would be a "goofy" experiment but would be fun to try. I have Rain-x but don't have a reed to waste......all my dead reeds have gone in the trash. I think the difficult part might be getting Rain-x on the inside surfaces of the reed and it is probably needed inside as well as outside. Perhaps a reed maker will try this before assembly of a reed (but it might lead to selling fewer reeds.)
By the way I think Rain-x is a great product when used on windshields.

Patrick McLaurin · 03-21-2012, 09:13 AM

Looks like duck call people use it all the time:
http://www.ducks.org/news-media/mess...pic764329.aspx

Google brings up a bunch of hits too.

East End Piper · 03-21-2012, 09:58 AM

Just a thought. I'm gonna try it on some old reeds

SteveW · 03-21-2012, 11:58 AM

There's also a rainx windshield washer fluid. If I were to apply it to my reeds (which I wont...) I'd use that. Just dunk it. hang it to dry and repeat as necessary.
Rainx was developed by Boeing for the 747. Because of the contour of the windshields and the air over it, wiper blades were impossible. The windshields get sprayed with it to prevent icing, etc. Anyone`who has every changed a 747 windshield knows how much of a pain in the A$$ this stuff is because it has to be COMPLETELY removed before any sealant is applied.

Piperalpha · 03-21-2012, 01:17 PM

There's another product similar to rain x. It's a superconductor and comes in a transparent spray. The video I saw of it was pretty insane. It's leaves a very small layer of the product on the surface it's applied to. I think it would be better suited for piping than rain x. I'll look for the link later and post it. I would think that reeds that have tongues that can be removed would be best suited for this type of product. I would worry about the product adhering the Tongue to the reed body. Using a superconductor to repel water from the reeds is an interesting idea though.

Piperalpha · 03-21-2012, 01:29 PM

If you search "superhydrophobic spray-on coating" on YouTube there's a video demonstrating and explaining the spray I'm talking about. It's strong enough to repel chocolate syrup and oil from a shoe. Interesting stuff. If anyone tries it out I'd be interested in hearing the results.

03-20-2012, 07:37 PM	#1
East End Piper Forum Member - Shy or Quiet Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Long Island Posts: 25	rain x? has anyone tried rain x on some synthetic reeds? just a thought. haven't tried it yet but figured i would ask around. could be worth a shot, ya never know how it can work out.

03-21-2012, 04:33 AM	#3
Randy McIntosh Holy smoking keyboard! Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Montreal, Quebec Posts: 2,882	Re: rain x? I would think that if you had enough moisture to think of using a product like Rain X..there is a bigger issue at hand! __________________ Randy

03-21-2012, 07:14 AM	#4
Patrick McLaurin Holy smoking keyboard! Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Lubbock, TX Posts: 3,498	Re: rain x? I bet you rainx will dissolve your reed. __________________ Piping Blog - Homepage - Pekaar's Tune Encyclopedia - Convert BMW to ABC

03-21-2012, 08:28 AM	#5
Donald Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: USA Posts: 93	Re: rain x? I hope somebody tries Rain-x and informs us of the outcome. Perhaps this would be a "goofy" experiment but would be fun to try. I have Rain-x but don't have a reed to waste......all my dead reeds have gone in the trash. I think the difficult part might be getting Rain-x on the inside surfaces of the reed and it is probably needed inside as well as outside. Perhaps a reed maker will try this before assembly of a reed (but it might lead to selling fewer reeds.) By the way I think Rain-x is a great product when used on windshields.

03-21-2012, 09:13 AM	#6
Patrick McLaurin Holy smoking keyboard! Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Lubbock, TX Posts: 3,498	Re: rain x? Looks like duck call people use it all the time: http://www.ducks.org/news-media/mess...pic764329.aspx Google brings up a bunch of hits too. __________________ Piping Blog - Homepage - Pekaar's Tune Encyclopedia - Convert BMW to ABC

03-21-2012, 09:58 AM	#7
East End Piper Forum Member - Shy or Quiet Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Long Island Posts: 25	Re: rain x? Just a thought. I'm gonna try it on some old reeds

03-21-2012, 11:58 AM	#8
SteveW Forum Clasp Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: No Where in Particular Posts: 793	Re: rain x? There's also a rainx windshield washer fluid. If I were to apply it to my reeds (which I wont...) I'd use that. Just dunk it. hang it to dry and repeat as necessary. Rainx was developed by Boeing for the 747. Because of the contour of the windshields and the air over it, wiper blades were impossible. The windshields get sprayed with it to prevent icing, etc. Anyone`who has every changed a 747 windshield knows how much of a pain in the A$$ this stuff is because it has to be COMPLETELY removed before any sealant is applied. Last edited by SteveW; 03-21-2012 at 12:01 PM.

03-21-2012, 01:17 PM	#9
Piperalpha Holy smoking keyboard! Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Canada Posts: 1,047	Re: rain x? There's another product similar to rain x. It's a superconductor and comes in a transparent spray. The video I saw of it was pretty insane. It's leaves a very small layer of the product on the surface it's applied to. I think it would be better suited for piping than rain x. I'll look for the link later and post it. I would think that reeds that have tongues that can be removed would be best suited for this type of product. I would worry about the product adhering the Tongue to the reed body. Using a superconductor to repel water from the reeds is an interesting idea though.

03-21-2012, 01:29 PM	#10
Piperalpha Holy smoking keyboard! Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Canada Posts: 1,047	Re: rain x? If you search "superhydrophobic spray-on coating" on YouTube there's a video demonstrating and explaining the spray I'm talking about. It's strong enough to repel chocolate syrup and oil from a shoe. Interesting stuff. If anyone tries it out I'd be interested in hearing the results.