Blowing hot air through your horn will help, but most of us can't keep blowing indefinitely.
Nor will wrapping your valves in a scarf take care of it.
No horn is small enough or large enough to be immune to this problem.
If your valves freeze, the only reasonable course of action is to go into a warm place and wait for them to thaw. Which nobody wants to have to do.
solution
To prevent freeze-up, we recommend hand warmers or electric socks.
- hand warmers:
There are several kinds on the market, including charcoal, catalytic, and iron-salt.
The charcoal and catalytic units are great for putting out heat, but many players find them difficult to attach because of their rigid cases.
Most players opt for Fe-NaCl (iron-salt) hand warmers. They are small packets of iron filings and salt (or something similar), and when they are exposed to air and moisture, there is a chemical reaction that produces a gentle heat. They are sold under various trade names, including Grabber, HEAT factory, and Hot Hands.
To use them, open the outer package, exposing the inner packet to air. Breath on the packet a few times, as the moisture in your breath speeds up the reaction a little bit.
Then strap the warmers around your valves with elastics, string, or wire.
One set of warmers will be good for the night. It's a good idea to remove them as soon as you finish the evening, as the contents start hardening as the chemical reaction proceeds.
You should be able to find this type of warmer in a Home Hardware store, Canadian Tire, or Mountain Equipment Co-op.
- electric socks:
These should need little explanation. Buy a pair, along with the appropriate batteries, and wrap your valves with them. Strap or tape the battery pack to your horn, or run a wire from a pocket to your socks.
Other ideas and suggestions are most welcome!
xmas@tuba.to
