Choosing a self storage in which to keep your musical instrument is not just a matter of deciding on the size and the rental price the way most musicians do. One of the most overlooked musical instrument that gets stored for a long time is the brass instrument. Presumably because the right way to storing this musical instrument can be a time-consuming activity.
Although it’s quite understandable that some cannot afford the more expensive climate-controlled self storage in Horsham, it’s important for them to keep in mind not to just store away and forget their seldomly used musical instruments. While Henfield Storage in Horsham offers a wide range of units that come in different sizes, they mostly come in climate-controlled enclosures.
After all, controlling the temperature and humidity inside a closed area helps ensure protection of your musical instruments against the negative effects of extremely warm or cold temperature. Such conditions often cause lack of moisture or create excessive moisture inside the storage room.
Brass instruments are quite expensive and its only through proper precautions like keeping them in a climate-controlled environment, will make such instruments last for generations. Although brass instruments are not as reactive to extreme changes in temperature, the greater concern is the accompanying humidity level.
High levels of moisture inside enclosed spaces create ideal conditions for bacterial growth that takes form as molds or mildew. Appearing as green stuff around slides and valves, they can prevent the instrument from functioning properly.
Humidity, which relates to water vapor that the air can no longer hold, becomes water that can cause erosion when it settles on brass materials.
Tips on How to Properly Store Brass Instruments
Brass Instruments like trumpets, saxophones, French horns and tuba, become susceptible to corrosion and molds when not properly stored climate-controlled spaces. Moreover, thoroughly cleaning the felt materials, cork and rubber components with a soft cloth after use and before storing the instrument can prevent the materials from crumbling and breaking down while in storage.
As additional protection it is best to place your brass instrument some levels away from the floor and away from windows, where the likely fluctuations in temperature and drafts could occur.
Yet it’s true that storing and caring for brass instruments is time consuming regardless of where you plan to store them. As most brass instruments are designed in such a way that components can be taken apart, you have to remove each slide and valve. That way you can clean, wipe dry and then store them individually in air tight bags.