Keep your microphones away from foam

Derrick · Post by **Derrick** » Wed Apr 01, 2009 11:27 am

Poor U87... Keep your microphones away from foam.

ott0bot · Post by **ott0bot** » Wed Apr 01, 2009 11:39 am

Ouch! That mic was probably sitting in storage for way too long!

Old foam is quite damaging and it degrages pretty fast. The seats in my old '65 New Yorker shot out yellow clouds of dust whenever I saw down. It would get little piles of yellow dust under the seat that I had to vaccuum it up all the time. It sucked when you forgot to do that and then a big gust of wind came along. The whole car would fill up with a cloud of deadly yellow foam. Getting MACED is fun compared to that crap getting in your eyes. I still miss that car a bit.

I can image how awesome that stuff is for sensative mic diaphrams!

Newer foam materials for the most part are much more durable and less prone to this kind of degredation. but of coarse you must be sure when storing expensive microphones.

;ivlunsdystf · Post by **;ivlunsdystf** » Wed Apr 01, 2009 1:11 pm

I'll take that U87 if you don't want it. I am willing to pay for shipping.

Ryan Silva · Post by **Ryan Silva** » Wed Apr 01, 2009 3:07 pm

Thats painfull, just painfull.

joel hamilton · Post by **joel hamilton** » Thu Apr 02, 2009 7:24 am

I always put the mics in a bag of some sort, then in the case.
satin bags work well. cheap, small satin wedding store type bags. or sandwich bags and silica gel.. that works also.

rty5150 · Post by **rty5150** » Thu Apr 02, 2009 7:09 pm

joel hamilton wrote:I always put the mics in a bag of some sort, then in the case.
satin bags work well. cheap, small satin wedding store type bags. or sandwich bags and silica gel.. that works also.

all my condenser mics go into plastic bags with a silica gel pack even when returning to their box/case. yes, i am fairly neurotic about my mics.

rich

cgarges · Post by **cgarges** » Fri Apr 03, 2009 8:14 am

I'll bet anything that's a U87, possibly from a broadcast studio, that spent most of its life with a big foam ball-type windscreen over it. I've seen this kind of thing a bunch. It's certainly repairable.

Chris Garges
Charlotte, NC

trodden · Post by **trodden** » Fri Apr 03, 2009 12:37 pm

suggestions for where you can buy silica gel packets? i'm sure google could tell me... but i feel like i need to open my mouth/fingers.. hahahha mouth finger.

Nate Dort · Post by **Nate Dort** » Fri Apr 03, 2009 1:25 pm

I've heard that pro camera shops have silica packets. Or maybe a packing/shipping supply place.

rty5150 · Post by **rty5150** » Fri Apr 03, 2009 5:42 pm

trodden wrote:suggestions for where you can buy silica gel packets? i'm sure google could tell me... but i feel like i need to open my mouth/fingers.. hahahha mouth finger.

i have family save them at christmas time from presents they get that have them. then, i just store them all in a plastic bag and get them as i need them.

rich

cleantone · Post by **cleantone** » Sat Apr 04, 2009 5:46 am

suggestions for where you can buy silica gel packets?

Steal them from shoe stores.

Rabbit · Post by **Rabbit** » Sat Apr 04, 2009 9:49 am

I thought that picture looked familiar, sure enough http://www.micshop.com/Foamed_U-87_front_back.html with a few more photos showing the capsule as well.

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Keep your microphones away from foam

Keep your microphones away from foam

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