Chromatic Warmer

[SlideMeister]

Well, I would say: a warm, valved Chromatic anyway.  (Suck harps don't care much about valves, and of course, ~I~ don't care much about valveless Chromatics)  Bwaaaahahaha!

[stan_in_usa]

Well, that depends on a factor. Valved harmonicas can't be beat. But if playing a few songs outdoors on a cold winter day, the valveless will hold up. Especially if playing some Christmas carols, entertaining the crowds.

[SlideMeister]

True, but I'm just flat-out too stingy with my air, and as such, refuse to play anything that wastes any of it. Heck, I won't even play a leaky "valved" Chromatic much less a leaky unvalved one.  To me, every molecule of air wasted is one I don't get to use to make the sound I wanna make. Yeah, I'm prolly fulla baloney but ~I~ believe it, so it works for me. 
@ge

[The Lone Harper]

This may be of interest:

https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=581146053458&scm=1007.12144.95220.42296_0&pvid=3c177680-ecb5-4fcb-a7e9-4b38fbd45585&utparam=%7B%22x_hestia_source%22%3A%2242296%22%2C%22x_object_type%22%3A%22item%22%2C%22x_mt%22%3A0%2C%22x_src%22%3A%2242296%22%2C%22x_pos%22%3A1%2C%22x_pvid%22%3A%223c177680-ecb5-4fcb-a7e9-4b38fbd45585%22%2C%22x_object_id%22%3A581146053458%7D

[Aluvsupreme]

Nice box. I think I still would rather use a heating pad or my armpit 😊     Brian

[Bernie9]

Just reporting back on the Zippo hand warmer I bought. While lasting 4 hrs on a USB charge, it is too small for warming several harps in a small case.  I am sure you people would expect the same result.  It is fine for one, though, in a very small case.
Bernie

[SlideMeister]

My secret is (unless of course, you're playing outside in cold weather) the old hand rub. Works best on a Chrometta because of the shape of the thing, and not at all on a CX-12 for the same reason.    I just rub the back of the comb on the palm (or heel) of my hand. Friction generates heat which makes the surface hot, and convection carries the heat in to the instrument and then out to the reed plates. Easy peasy! Works for me. 

[Scotty]

Just reporting back on the Zippo hand warmer I bought. While lasting 4 hrs on a USB charge, it is too small for warming several harps in a small case.  I am sure you people would expect the same result.  It is fine for one, though, in a very small case.
Bernie

hi Bernie: i was thisclose to buying the zippo handwarmer, but the one which required lighter fluid. then i wondered how i'd manage with my hand problems -if i'd end up spilling the stuff all over me. didn't know they now come with a usb port to charge. i imagine though, that heating 'em with lighter fluid probably generates more heat for longer? i originally saw a gorgeous one for less than $25 with an enameled picture of white wolves (my dog is a white American eskimo--so i found that very appealing). should have bought it --still might get one with the lighter fluid just to try. it might radiate the heat in a small-ish case to heat a couple of cx-12's (my real necessity). my hands freeze as well, and now after the shoulder surgery (and hand arthritis), even inside a 72-73 degree house my hands feel like ice. very hard to manage anything like this. i still won't be able to play a chromatic (or my keyboards) for a while, but am dreading when the temps drop further.

scotty

[SlideMeister]

I had one of those hand warmers when I was a kid. Thinking back, it worked great. Stayed in my pocket, never went out, and stayed very warm. It never leaked, was easy to re-fuel and even looked kinda cool.

[Gnarly He Man]

I see that the Seydel heated case is now available for purchase by itself, less than $200 at Guitar Center.
https://www.guitarcenter.com/SEYDEL/Heatable-Harmonica-Case-1500000145054.gc?cntry=us&source=4WWRWXGP&gclid=Cj0KCQiApILhBRD1ARIsAOXWTzuu-1y5Nk_i_whjqtGLabe4RFghUUOYftylE0WfAnRGZfeQAhMPqNsaAtLZEALw_wcB
Santa, baby . . .

[SaxonyFan]

I have been able to find only one image of the inside of the Seydel heatable case. It looks like it has slots for two 12 hole chromes and one 14 hole chrome. It also appears that the warming zone encompasses only the 14 hole and one 12 hole slot. Is this really the only slot configuration that we can purchase? I don’t own a 14 hole chrome and probably never will. So the 14 hole slot does me little good since I wouldn’t want one of my 12 holers to rattle about in a 14 hole slot. Can the case be configured for three 12 holers only?

[Keith]

From what I remember, it was one 16 & 2x 12 slots, but surely you could use a bit of foam, or similar, to stop a smaller chrom from rattling around.

[Aluvsupreme]

Yes, it heats the 16 hole and 12 hole slot only.      Brian

[FrancisChin]

How about getting one of these usb powered baby milk bottle warmer?

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Baby-Outdoor-Bottle-Thermostat-Bag-Car-Portable-USB-Heating-Intelligent-Warm-Milk-Tool-Insulation-Cover/32963353828.html?spm=2114.10010108.1000014.1.49fa1de3u8EAy5&gps-id=pcDetailBottomMoreOtherSeller&scm=1007.13338.112235.000000000000000&scm_id=1007.13338.112235.000000000000000&scm-url=1007.13338.112235.000000000000000&pvid=b552d3ba-29ad-45fe-bbef-3c5be49a7315

Seems to be perfect for one or two harps. And less than US$10

[SlideMeister]

Yeah, but somehow I can't imagine putting that much of an amperage draw on a computer of any sort. (prolly end up frying the motherboard. ) If you use one of those, I suggest you get a beefy 5-volt power supply instead of using a computer to power the thing.

[Mondobongo]

I’ve just discovered that leaving my CX 12 beside the exhaust of my laptop warms it nicely.

[Scotty]

I’ve just discovered that leaving my CX 12 beside the exhaust of my laptop warms it nicely.

at home, my monitor sits atop a raised platform around 3-4 inches high. enough space beneath to stash a few items including my chromatics. it generates enough warm to keep my chromatics warm as well, including my cx-12's. if I get up for any reason I close the doors to the computer armoire to keep the cats out --which produces even more heat--making them toasty warm, which is great for really cold days. for most of us though, the problem is when we're away from home --especially playing at places like spah, where the hotels seem to believe in keeping the temps at below freezing in the middle of august  - making it practically impossible (for me anyway) to get my chromatics up to body temperature while I play. To that end, I usually (in the hallway jams where i'm using 16's for the 'all-C' crowd), tuck one of my chromes beneath my leg on the chair...warming it while I play another, then switch out periodically. I've tried everything else --usually amn't close to an outlet (the chairs are usually gathered in a rough circle) --and one needs to ease into the playing while disrupting the playing as little as possible. this works for me. then it's the issue of trying to keep my freezing hands warm during play! we've batted this around for ages - must be tons of hours of discussion here on SlideMeister! a truly wireless, lightweight 'something' to hold in one's hands AS we play would be optimum (at least for me).

scotty
PS: playing Christmas carols outside for the neighbours is a whole 'nother issue to be solved - warmth-wise, but is off the table for me at the moment.

[Gnarly He Man]

scotty
PS: playing Christmas carols outside for the neighbours is a whole 'nother issue to be solved - warmth-wise, but is off the table for me at the moment.

That’s the gold standard— fingers crossed!

[Scotty]

scotty
PS: playing Christmas carols outside for the neighbours is a whole 'nother issue to be solved - warmth-wise, but is off the table for me at the moment.

That’s the gold standard— fingers crossed!

yup - but you're in san diego. i'm talking in new York, in possibly below-freezing temps in snow and ice! hahaha - so it's a really tall order.

yours would be the gold standard. ny would be diamond? mid-west with their feet of snow last week would be platinum, maybe?
kidding of course --i'd be happy to find something like age's gizmo but wireless.

scotty
PS: there's a similar discussion going on right now under tom's thread asking about what to do about sticking valves.

[SaxonyFan]

I’ve just discovered that leaving my CX 12 beside the exhaust of my laptop warms it nicely.

My present laptop runs cool. I miss my old chrome-heating laptop.

[Laina]

Hotties hand warmers are really useful if you're on the move with no easy access to power. They stay warm for hours..

[Gnarly He Man]

I have successfully used hand warmers to keep a chromatic warm--as Scotty says, here in San Diego--but it looks weird, and that doesn't solve the problem for me.
I hope the issue gets addressed by some company, they can literally make hundreds of dollars!

[Aluvsupreme]

Yes ! Literally!    😊            Brian

[Keith]

..... a truly wireless, lightweight 'something' to hold in one's hands AS we play would be optimum (at least for me).

scotty
PS: playing Christmas carols outside for the neighbours is a whole 'nother issue to be solved - warmth-wise, but is off the table for me at the moment.

Hmm, it's just come to me, how about a hand muff with a hole cut in the side for your mouth to play the chrom(?). 

[Scotty]

..... a truly wireless, lightweight 'something' to hold in one's hands AS we play would be optimum (at least for me).

scotty
PS: playing Christmas carols outside for the neighbours is a whole 'nother issue to be solved - warmth-wise, but is off the table for me at the moment.

Hmm, it's just come to me, how about a hand muff with a hole cut in the side for your mouth to play the chrom(?). 

now you're on the right track --especially for the outside playing, but unless it's heated, it still wouldn't be warm enough for a chrom in our bitterly cold weather. some adaptation thereof just might be workable though! some bells just went off in my brain, so i'm going to ponder this for next winter. thx, keith!

scotty

[John Broecker]

This is an old topic, (2016-'19), but
I'd like to add another heating pad to
the list.

My health insurance paid for this pad.
I haven't  tried it, yet:. More information
later.

Sunbeam King Size Heating Pad;
P.N.#200198; SAP # 2108866.
Price: about US $20 plus tax.
(That's the health insurance cost.
It was FREE to me.)

Measures 12" X 24" (may be useful for
48 chord harps [23" long], and all other
smaller length harps).

5 yr. limited warranty; 4 heat settings,
2-hour auto shut-off; vinyl pad with
washable plaid cloth cover.

www.sunbeam.com

Best Regards

John Broecker

[jkimpossible]

It is an old thread but I just want to share that I place my harp in its case on top of the Xfinity cable modem box.  It works.

[Angie]

I use this pad at level three, works great and is very affordable. It's designed for reptiles. I once read that somewhere at chrome players and ordered it for myself: https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B0788NN53J/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[Keith]

That was my first sized heating pad, John, but found that reptile heating pads, like Angie has found, come in smaller sizes, easier to have on the desktop with a couple of chroms warming - mine is about 8" x 6".

[Tymbrewolf]

I have a usb heating pad to use in a car.