As a repairman of 27 years, and being familiar with the cryogenic process. I would say your greatest benefit will be on instruments that have had all other mechanical issues addressed first. In no way can this process take the place of good valve fit, properly fitted mouthpiece receivers, aligned valve ports, ect...Also, the more accomplished the player, the more likely they will notice the benefit of the cryogenic treatment.
Jim Becker,Senior Technician Osmun Music Inc. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Eldon Matlick" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Monday, October 13, 2003 8:16 PM Subject: [Hornlist] Cryogenics > Supposedly cryogenic treatment of an instrument will reduce metal > stress made by metal working procedures in manufacter or repair. Any > time metal is worked (bended, straightened, etc.) the metal gets harder > (more brittle) and does not respond as easily to vibration. > > Temperature treating can either be done by annealing (heat) or by > freezing (cryogenics). True, there are some that do not subscribe to > the second option, stating that the molecules or crystalline structure > of the metal returns to normal after freezing. > > The cryogenic process has been used for over 30 years in industry > (diesel engines, golf clubs, rifles, saws, etc.). The process itself > isn't't that expensive, though recent marketers are offering this > treatment well into the hundreds of dollars. > > If done correctly, cryogenic treatment takes 3-4 days. The item is > lowered to the desired temperature gradually and left there for 24 > hours. After the desired time, the instrument is then slowly returned > to room temperature. > > If you live near a moderate sized city, you might be able to find a > place to have your instrument treated. There is a place in our town > that does it for well under $100. > > Our trumpet professor has had several of his instruments treated and he > notices a distinct difference. I had a very old instrument treated > because of severe bell damage and the treatment resurrected a dead > bell. > > Treating a new instrument supposedly relaxes the metal so that it plays > more freely; similar to a well-broken in horn. As a caveat, not all > instruments show improvement, thus it is not a universal cure. I have > noticed some difference in 75% of the instruments I have seen. > > So, if you want to try to turn your instrument into a hornsicle, then > be aware of the variety of prices offered by different companies. The > worst that can happen is that you will not notice any difference. I > have not heard of an instance in where this treatment adversely > affected the instrument. Maybe other readers have. We'll see how the > response is to this thread. > > Sincerely, > > Eldon Matlick > > ===== > Dr. Eldon Matlick, Horn Professor, University of Oklahoma > Principal Hornist, OK City Philharmonic > 500 W Boyd > Norman, OK 73019 > (405) 325-4093 off. (405) 325-7574 fax > Conn-Selmer Educational Artist > http://ouhorns.com > > __________________________________ > Do you Yahoo!? > The New Yahoo! Shopping - with improved product search > http://shopping.yahoo.com > _______________________________________________ > post: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > set your options at http://music.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/rosmun%40osmun.com > > _______________________________________________ post: [EMAIL PROTECTED] set your options at http://music.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
