Peter,
On Sun, 15 Mar 1998, Peter Ross wrote:
> Ronnie,
>
> One other thing to add. When I visited Mejiros in Dec. they had bins
> full of almost black "steamed bamboo". Some call it "smoked bamboo". It
> certainly smells smoked, almost like salmon, though the smell fades
> after awhile. This new process is being toted as a way to crack-proof
> bamboo. I bought a smoked bamboo ha-sun from Kimura Kanzan, who lives
> in gunma-ken, right near the folks who do the processing. He told me it
> wasn't fool-proof, but the best thing so far. Has anyone else had any
> experiences with this?
I'm familiar with the smoked bamboo and have sold a few flutes that have
been "smoked"...But I alsways thought that it was only for the
purpose of darkening the bamboo and thus making them more
attractive..Didn't know that it had anything to do with making them
safe from cracking...I've also sold about three of Kanzan's
flutes...pretty...
> By the way, you're probably right that oiling the bamboo doesn't
> add moisture where it's needed the most. Somehow it feels like I'm
> letting the bamboo know I care. (I can't believe I just said that, in
> public and all).
Actually, this last statement doesn't seem at all strange or odd to
me..Maybe, we've all been hanging around bamboo too long!!!
Take Care,
Ronnie
Peter...
>
>
> Dear Peter,
>
> On Sun, 15 Mar 1998, Peter Ross wrote:
>
> > Ronnie,
> >
> > I guess if you keep the flutes "humidified" consistently they will
>
> > be fine.
>
> Exactly...
>
> Also, theories are theories, but nothing works like success.
> > By the way, when I mail a flute to Japan that I don't want to buy, and
>
> > don't want to be responsible for if it cracks, I usually include a
> damp
> > sponge or piece of cloth in the plastic bag. So I do use that
> technique
> > at times. I guess the danger, like Monty implied, would be in
> putting
> > the flute in a wet and dry cycle, back and forth, which would cause
> > cracking.
>
> Again, right on the mark...
> >
> > I wondered why you don't oil your flutes. You say you never have for
> > many reasons. What are those reasons.
>
> Well, I guess "many" reasons was a bit of an exaggeration..Basically, I
> don't like the smell of the oil from walnuts or the residue that it
> leaves
> sometimes, even when thouroughly wiped off..Also, I've never believed
> that
> it helps against cracking, although it does darken the Bamboo quicker..
> The water , or humidity, that keeps the Bamboo happy, goes up through
> its
> "Tubers", as Bamboo is a "grass" not a hard-wood..It seems to me that
> the
> oiling process will not accomplish the same end..But as you stated, if
> it
> works, stay with it!!!
>
> Ronnie
>
>
>
>
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