For who's curious: the piece at 2:08 min is Vitali's Chaccone. I put a link here if you want to hear the piece: ua-cam.com/video/PpRioM78RbQ/v-deo.html Sorry for my bad English. Instead, greetings (and happy practicing) from Italy! :)
Thank you! It is always humid where I live except for Winter, and whenever it rains I just sound horrible and the violin and bow feels so dampened. I usually keep my violin out with a towel on it so that I can casually grab it and start playing but it seems like a bad habbit. Your tip is very helpful!
Nevermind - answered below. Thanks What about putting a little blue silica gell into a small nylon bag and putting it in the case. About 3 tablespoonfuls of silica gel.
I am trying to become a luthier and i'm curious of the effects humidity has during the building process. These are not questions normally asked as most people discuss things like humidity for a completed instrument. I honestly have so many questions pertaining to constructing an instrument but I live in a region with high humidity so it seems a good question to start with as it may potentially have an effect on the instruments construction as a whole. Thank you for your time, I cant tell you how much your insight means for me.
Hi Jean-Luc, Interesting question. The problem is that if you build sturdy violins with thicker top plates they won't sound as good. I would consider slightly bigger top and bottom blocks, and maybe a very slightly higher neck action. Also you can build some extra strength into your arching. Make sure that the top of the arching isn't too flat. Also on the inside of the top-plate you could leave a bit of extra timber at the top near the top block. You will have to tell the players to keep their instruments dry. Good luck
thank you for such an informative video! should ı put the ironed cloth on the violin right away after ironing it? or should ı wait a little for the ironed cloth to get warm?
The reason for ironing is to remove the humidity from the cloth... You could also put a tea towel in the dryer... Just let it cool down for 5 minutes before putting it into the case
ALDI sold dehumifyer bags filled with silicagel a while ago. They contain around 500 g which can hold at least 200 g of water. Originally they are recommended by the maker for e.g. keep the inside of your car or cupboard dry to avoid fungus. You can dry the bags in your oven or microwave. Such a bag in the violin case is maybe a good violin life saver. It can reduce the humidity level in your case as low as 10 % relative humidity. What do you think? Would you use them too?
Hello, Olaf! Should I add silica gel gradually? I'm really afraid it's going to get too dry inside the case all of a sudden. I was also instructed to wrap my violin in a 100% silk scarf. Does that help?
@@AskOlaftheViolinmaker Thank you so much! So I should just put it in and out? My case hygrometer is always marking "high humidity", can I just leave the silica inside the case full time?
It's funny. I'm new to your channel, and I'm going back to watch your back-catalog. I found myself thinking, he's in Oz humidity control must be horrendous.
Sir - I have an instrument ~ 8 years old, which already seems to have a lowered fingerboard due to the high humidity levels it's been exposed to. What would be the best / least invasive way to fix this? Will repeatedly placing ironed cloth on the violin sort this out in due course? Also, would it help to placing a dozen bags of silica gel in the case?
This is great for me because I live in Houston, and it’s always humid here. Thanks for the tip!
Me too!
Same
Me as well 💀
For who's curious: the piece at 2:08 min is Vitali's Chaccone. I put a link here if you want to hear the piece: ua-cam.com/video/PpRioM78RbQ/v-deo.html
Sorry for my bad English. Instead, greetings (and happy practicing) from Italy! :)
Nice van goh in the background !
Thank you! It is always humid where I live except for Winter, and whenever it rains I just sound horrible and the violin and bow feels so dampened. I usually keep my violin out with a towel on it so that I can casually grab it and start playing but it seems like a bad habbit. Your tip is very helpful!
This is excellent! I live in a very high humidity area, and always worry about my violin.
Great and informative videos. Your passion alone makes the videos feel interesting. keep it up!
Thank you Marcus
your house looks really lovely 🥰
You rock! 😄
Hey, How about dryness? We live in Finland and during the winter the relative humidity indoors can drop to just to 5%. Can that give any problems?
This is great, I live in Indonesia (tropical) and its monsoon season. THANKS!
does some silica gels work to soak up the humidity?(my country has a humidity of 70%)
Yes, definitely. I posted this tip, because people don't always have silica satchels on hand
It will. And it’ll work much better if you can get your case airtight.
Nevermind - answered below. Thanks What about putting a little blue silica gell into a small nylon bag and putting it in the case. About 3 tablespoonfuls of silica gel.
How much silica gel is needed in violin case?
Does this also apply for cellos? 🤔Thanks! 😊
Definitely!
I am trying to become a luthier and i'm curious of the effects humidity has during the building process. These are not questions normally asked as most people discuss things like humidity for a completed instrument. I honestly have so many questions pertaining to constructing an instrument but I live in a region with high humidity so it seems a good question to start with as it may potentially have an effect on the instruments construction as a whole. Thank you for your time, I cant tell you how much your insight means for me.
Hi Jean-Luc,
Interesting question.
The problem is that if you build sturdy violins with thicker top plates they won't sound as good.
I would consider slightly bigger top and bottom blocks, and maybe a very slightly higher neck action.
Also you can build some extra strength into your arching. Make sure that the top of the arching isn't too flat.
Also on the inside of the top-plate you could leave a bit of extra timber at the top near the top block.
You will have to tell the players to keep their instruments dry.
Good luck
thank you for such an informative video! should ı put the ironed cloth on the violin right away after ironing it? or should ı wait a little for the ironed cloth to get warm?
The reason for ironing is to remove the humidity from the cloth... You could also put a tea towel in the dryer...
Just let it cool down for 5 minutes before putting it into the case
ALDI sold dehumifyer bags filled with silicagel a while ago. They contain around 500 g which can hold at least 200 g of water. Originally they are recommended by the maker for e.g. keep the inside of your car or cupboard dry to avoid fungus.
You can dry the bags in your oven or microwave. Such a bag in the violin case is maybe a good violin life saver. It can reduce the humidity level in your case as low as 10 % relative humidity. What do you think? Would you use them too?
Hello, Olaf! Should I add silica gel gradually? I'm really afraid it's going to get too dry inside the case all of a sudden. I was also instructed to wrap my violin in a 100% silk scarf. Does that help?
If you put in a silica satchel, it will soak up the humidity gradually... so no worries there Olivia
@@AskOlaftheViolinmaker Thank you so much! So I should just put it in and out? My case hygrometer is always marking "high humidity", can I just leave the silica inside the case full time?
What is an ideal humidity range? I’ve heard 40-50% for other instruments. Is it similar with the violin?
40-60%
It's funny. I'm new to your channel, and I'm going back to watch your back-catalog. I found myself thinking, he's in Oz humidity control must be horrendous.
Sir - I have an instrument ~ 8 years old, which already seems to have a lowered fingerboard due to the high humidity levels it's been exposed to. What would be the best / least invasive way to fix this? Will repeatedly placing ironed cloth on the violin sort this out in due course? Also, would it help to placing a dozen bags of silica gel in the case?
I always thought I need to protect the violin from getting to dry. Many people actually recommend putting a humidifier in the case.
Will an empty dampit work to suck up the humidity inside the violin?
Maybe a little bit... I think there are better ways of reducing humidity.
@@AskOlaftheViolinmaker Thanks Olaf! I will just use your advice in this video. 😁
What about dampits that hang inside the f holes?
Personally I would always worry about creating a different climate inside an instrument than outside...
@@AskOlaftheViolinmaker ok... Thank you for the reply
I want to make a violin
Life hack: *iron your violin put of existence*
When music meet physics
What is the best humidity range to keep your violin in? Can it be too dry? What is too humid?
So I guess there is a benefit to living in a dry desert...
I feel a desire to become a Violin Luthier but the programs in my country are not wallet-friendly lol