Dusty! (help?)

[megavoice]

No, of course not so much the dust, but the oxidations and probably the rust that settled down over the years.
A few days ago I refurbished all the inner parts of my 33 year old T2 that has almost NEVER been used and never been taken out of my living room. It had been switched on for about 50 times all in all through the decades and DESPITE there had been on some pots considerable corrosions !!!
Think also of the little holes of the grid beeing probably full of very small skin leavings.....

[monsterjazzlicks]

Think also of the little holes of the grid beeing probably full of very small skin leavings.....

Thats true, I do go a bit mad with my pitch-bends! lol

[thealien666]

I have tried several different synth covers over the years including thealiens666's pillow case idea and MC's towels. The dust, as MC noticed, always got through these cloth covers. I also worried about accidentally covering a synth without turning it off (which would possibly make a synth like a Prophet 5 overheat).
My solution was to get some bubble wrap and carefully cut it down to fit 61, 44, and 37 key synth sizes as needed. I also cut covers for my mixers. These (bubble side down) bubble wrap covers are dust proof, very gentle on my synths, transparent, attractive (since they don't hide my gear), versatile, and yes - rather inexpensive. The bubble surface also prevents condensation under the cover and the waterproof plastic even offers a little protection from spilt drinks or a random leak from above.

Isn't plastic bubble wrap full of static electricity, and thus can exacerbate attracting dust ? Not to mention risking electrostatic discharge into sensitive electronics of some synths ? Not to mention, also, the almost irresistible urge of your friends or family or even yourself to burst some of those bubbles ?

My pillow cases are very dense (450 thread count) and made of 60% cotton and 40% polyester (not too fluffy to create dust, and not too plasticky to create static). Even though the contour does not fit snuggly, there is very little dust that manages to get under the covers. The key is to remove them and play the instrument almost daily and shake the dust off the covers (preferably outside).
As for accidentally leaving a synth powered on and overheating, all of the synths I own have their heatsink on the back where it is well ventilated. Furthermore, I use a power bar to cut power completely to all my musical equipment at once.

[LPsCDsn12iis]

I buy from Digitaldeckcovers.com in the US frequently. I'm not sure if they ship internationally (though, they'd probably work it out with you if you contact them-they're a small company).
You can request an estimate with your own material and color configurations--any dimensions. Also, they can add flaps, slots, etc. I've had them make everything from turntable, dj mixer, and cassette deck covers to a full 19" rack.
Regards,
John

[monsterjazzlicks]

Thanks very much for the info John.

[torinkrell]

The bubble wrap does not seem to create any static electricity issues at all however it is a tempting to pop it from time to time I always enjoy hearing the variety of solutions this forum offers!

[museslave]

As long as your cloth cover fully covers the synth and doesn't allow for a lot of air flow, AND isn't particularly lacking in density, dust isn't going to get through. Of course, because it's cloth, dust might come FROM it, but isn't necessarily getting THROUGH it.

I've always thought a plastic like a trashbag, as held down by heavy cloth like a pillow case or towel would work wonderfully, if you were really seeking to keep dust off of your synth.

But let's face it: the biggest problem isn't a few stray dust particles, the the biggest problem is putting some sort of cover over your synth and not playing it for a long time. If you have synths that you don't play frequently, you should probably just keep them in cases... and also prepare for the eventuality of having to twist pots a lot. Synths with knobs need to be played frequently. The older they are, the more unhappy they'll be if they're not played. Synths that are played a lot don't gather dust... because you won't let them.

[MC]

As long as your cloth cover fully covers the synth and doesn't allow for a lot of air flow, AND isn't particularly lacking in density, dust isn't going to get through. Of course, because it's cloth, dust might come FROM it, but isn't necessarily getting THROUGH it.

Respectfully disagree.

The dust I am seeing is light colored.

The towels I am covering the synths with are black.

The dust is the same material whether the synths were covered or not. It is a very fine dust. Cloth is porous, very fine dust is going to go through it. The light colored dust is not coming from the black towels.

[thealien666]

Uh, do you know where the fine dust you're talking about come from ? Mostly from dead human skin cells. Unless your covered synths are in a sanding workshop ?
Maybe vacuuming the floors more often would reduce the amount, and it wouldn't then easily go thru the cloth covers ?

Just kidding MC...

[megavoice]

I have tried several different synth covers over the years including thealiens666's pillow case idea and MC's towels. The dust, as MC noticed, always got through these cloth covers. I also worried about accidentally covering a synth without turning it off (which would possibly make a synth like a Prophet 5 overheat).
My solution was to get some bubble wrap and carefully cut it down to fit 61, 44, and 37 key synth sizes as needed. I also cut covers for my mixers. These (bubble side down) bubble wrap covers are dust proof, very gentle on my synths, transparent, attractive (since they don't hide my gear), versatile, and yes - rather inexpensive. The bubble surface also prevents condensation under the cover and the waterproof plastic even offers a little protection from spilt drinks or a random leak from above.

Isn't plastic bubble wrap full of static electricity, and thus can exacerbate attracting dust ? Not to mention risking electrostatic discharge into sensitive electronics of some synths ? Not to mention, also, the almost irresistible urge of your friends or family or even yourself to burst some of those bubbles ?

My pillow cases are very dense (450 thread count) and made of 60% cotton and 40% polyester (not too fluffy to create dust, and not too plasticky to create static). Even though the contour does not fit snuggly, there is very little dust that manages to get under the covers. The key is to remove them and play the instrument almost daily and shake the dust off the covers (preferably outside).
As for accidentally leaving a synth powered on and overheating, all of the synths I own have their heatsink on the back where it is well ventilated. Furthermore, I use a power bar to cut power completely to all my musical equipment at once.

Oh yes my mates, THINK of the statics, some ICs are really prone for it. I.ex. the TOS chips for the Poly.
I also have been recently chastised from my tech NOT to cover the side slids of my CHROMA, even after swapping the PSU into a "almost not heating any more" SPSU. Even this small warmth HAS TO go out....

As for the dust, the dust itself it's not the issue at the end. The big mess is that dust is hygroscopic and attracks water from the air, .......I think I need not to continue....

In the first years I had all my synths covered till the late eighties, but if YOU have a beautiful wife at home, you'll keep her binded up in a sack most of the time ???
So since then I don't cover any more and buyed a very mellow and big paint brush and go over from time to time.
Except the T2, all my syths looked wonderful inside after opening after a long time.......so why should I care......

[MC]

Uh, do you know where the fine dust you're talking about come from ? Mostly from dead human skin cells. Unless your covered synths are in a sanding workshop ?
Maybe vacuuming the floors more often would reduce the amount, and it wouldn't then easily go thru the cloth covers ?

Just kidding MC...

Respectful ribbing aside, my studio basement is unfinished and the basement ceiling has fiberglass insulation between the floor joints. This fine dust is the insulation shedding. Very annoying stuff. I rent the place so I am not putting any $$$ into any improvement.

[mrfett]

these guys make good covers that keep dust out, and they aren't too expensive:

http://www.lecover.com

[monsterjazzlicks]

these guys make good covers that keep dust out, and they aren't too expensive:

http://www.lecover.com

Thanks Mr Fett.

[mrfett]

happy to help

[Vsyevolod]

If you have exposed fiberglass insulation in your studio, you owe your lungs (and health and longevity) a lot. Cover that s*** up, if only with 4 mil plastic!

Stephen




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