any advice on storing shuttles ? and is it nessessory to store it vertically ?

Thanks
Ss

Keep them in the fridge, keeps them moist.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by qwerty
Keep them in the fridge, keeps them moist. [/QUOTE

i read about this b4, but too bad, my fridge is already full :| i m trying to put them somewhere away from direct sunlight, but is it not advisable to store them horizontally ?

Thanks
Ss

I don't see any problem with keeping the tube horizontal provided you don't stack anything on top of it. The shuttles are so light and the glue so stiff that I can't imagine there being any problems just from gravity. For a single tube, you'd probably use them up before you'd notice any effect.

If you're talking about really long-term storage, particularly in a humid environment, maybe that's different.

what about steaming it then storing them?
that puts a lot of moisture into them?

Originally posted by AhNgaU
what about steaming it then storing them?
that puts a lot of moisture into them?

Hehe...I remember a guy who once stored birds damp for a long period of time at room temperature. When he took them out, they were moldy.

Since I live in a dry area, the way I've always done it is to put as many birds as I think I'm going to use the next day into a tube and wrap a damp towel around it with the ends open for overnight. Other times I've done it by keeping sponges or damp rags in the ends of tubes, or, for quick results, steaming them, as you suggested. Basically, the idea is to introduce just enough moisture to keep them from being brittle and thus breaking feathers easily (with higher natural air humidity, this is not as much of a problem). Frankly, though, I don't see people doing that much anymore. They just pull the birds out of the dry tube.

I'm sure there is an optimum storage temperature and humidity to keep shuttles in the best condition.

They should be stored in a cool room with constant 55F temperature and 60-70% humidity. The tubes should be angled at 45 degrees with the cork end down. Each tube should be rotated clockwise by 90 degrees every month. Then, before their use, the tubes should be "disgorged"




OOps, I think I got confused with Champagne. Sorry.:)

i store my birdies in the bathroom. ok, at least as much as i can fit into the bathroom. the steam from showers will keep them moist naturally.

sometimes i feel that keeping birdie too moist will make them mushy. it is a delicate balance.

i have used moldy birdies before (nothing to do with the bathroom, they came from the shop that way!), and it is quite yucky.

Originally posted by kwun
i store my birdies in the bathroom. ok, at least as much as i can fit into the bathroom. the steam from showers will keep them moist naturally.



(Hehe, I can just see it...paper drinking cup dispensers full of shuttles instead of cups.:p :D )

Originally posted by kwun

i have used moldy birdies before (nothing to do with the bathroom, they came from the shop that way!), and it is quite yucky.

so did the birdie drop things on your head when u smash on it ..... :rolleyes:

Originally posted by AKFT
They should be stored in a cool room with constant 55F temperature and 60-70% humidity. The tubes should be angled at 45 degrees with the cork end down. Each tube should be rotated clockwise by 90 degrees every month. Then, before their use, the tubes should be "disgorged"




OOps, I think I got confused with Champagne. Sorry.:)

Too bad , i dont have a wine cellar, so bathroom is the best place :) I know Pre-emptive have one :p maybe he is moving out the bottles now :D
btw, y the shuttle need to store in 45 degrees ?

Thanks
Ss

Originally posted by kwun
i store my birdies in the bathroom. ok, at least as much as i can fit into the bathroom. the steam from showers will keep them moist naturally.

sometimes i feel that keeping birdie too moist will make them mushy. it is a delicate balance.

i have used moldy birdies before (nothing to do with the bathroom, they came from the shop that way!), and it is quite yucky.

Kwun, do you have to keep open one of the caps on the shuttle tubes or keep the tube sealed when storing in the bathroom?

i usually just keep them sealed.

then how the moist air hydrates the shuttle?

it depends, if the goal is to keep them moist, meaning, they didn't come dry in the first place, the humid surrounding of the bathroom will do the job.

if the birdie are dry in the first place, firstly you should change your vendor, then you should still store them in the bathroom and perhaps steam them a day or two before you use them...

I think there is nothing like the firdge when it comes to storing Birds.WHen i buy a box i usually dip them in water(Dip not soak) and then after they dry a bit they get into the fridge. This way the bird plays the way it should and last longer as well.

The bathroom thing is a fine line.U let steam cook them more then... and when i was in India if u have bath in Hot water u will be Burnt by the time u are out.

for colder countries i think u shoudl be careful when u steam them...

But the safest Bid is a Fridge.

Yogi: if one stores the birds in the fridge, would't they dry out since the fridge tends to take the humidity out? Do you store them in the "vegetable compartments" so they stay fresh?

I think for people who live in warm humid places they probably don't have to treat the birds like us, who live in cold dry places. The reason we have to steam/rehydrate the birds is because they are dried up and become "crispy". Then they do not last as long.

:)

You can always purchase a shuttle storage machine. These machines maintain the environment at precisely y temperate and z humidity.

Or a temperature and humidity controlled room if you have LOTs of shuttles and LOTs of $$$$$$$$$.

:D

i wonder if we can use one of those electronic wine celler machine. it is the size of a fridge, and should be enough to hold 50 or so tubes.

A humidor (for cigars) would be more appropriate since it is the humidity one is concerned about, not the temperature. Again, I don't think people living in hot humid places have to worry about these things.

:)

I don't think it's necessary to keep them constantly damp for long periods of storage, but if you do, COLD and damp is better than WARM and damp because you would inhibit the growth of mold. Otherwise, you might have to keep them irradiated with UV light.:p

hm.. i am going to store a tube in the fridge and see how that pans out. my gf is going to give me funny looks.

i am going to store a tube in the fridge

I don't understand the rational of storing shuttles in the fridge. All joking aside, the reason to steam or moisten the birds before they are played is because they break more easily when they are dry and brittle. That only happens in places with low humidity such as the west coast and the NE of the US. Putting the shuttles in the fridge will dry them out even more!



:)

There's always the "instant hydrating" method used by some players--wiping the shuttle with perspiration.:eek:

Originally posted by AKFT


I don't understand the rational of storing shuttles in the fridge. All joking aside, the reason to steam or moisten the birds before they are played is because they break more easily when they are dry and brittle. That only happens in places with low humidity such as the west coast and the NE of the US. Putting the shuttles in the fridge will dry them out even more!



:)

No, you are wrong. The point is that relative humidity in the fridge is close to 100%. (That is why the water condense on the inner walls of the fridge.) The total amount of H2O in one liter of air in the fridge is the same like outside the fridge but the temperature differs -> relative humidity must be higher in colder place.

It is so easy to verify. Put small cup of water into the fridge and similar cup leave in the kitchen outside the fridge. Wait for say one week and then check. If the result will be different than I expect I will fill your magic fridge with the best Czech beer:D .

The relative humidity may be high, but don't forget the fridge (and any other cooling system) is continuously removing condensation from the environment. That condensation ultimately comes from the items you store inside, ie your shuttles.`

:)

PS: I am not a fan of Czech beers, but I'll take the "-never" from your screen name.

:D

At senior tournaments at my club, we have a kettle on so people can steam their birds right before playing.

Phil

Originally posted by AKFT
PS: I am not a fan of Czech beers, but I'll take the "-never" from your screen name.

:D

Pls wait a second before you take my "-never". I am not going to loose my nick that easy man! The condensated water does not come from the stored items. It is water from outside air that got to the fridge when you opened it. It is the same process like morning dew in the nature...

Why don't you try the experiment with two cups of water? I will do the same experiment today when I am back from my training. Let's see who is right in the end.

P.S. you should reconsider what are your favourite beer brands. We are not champs in baddy but we are definitely the best in the world in making beer...
:p

Originally posted by trapped-never


No, you are wrong. The point is that relative humidity in the fridge is close to 100%. (That is why the water condense on the inner walls of the fridge.) The total amount of H2O in one liter of air in the fridge is the same like outside the fridge but the temperature differs -> relative humidity must be higher in colder place.

It is so easy to verify. Put small cup of water into the fridge and similar cup leave in the kitchen outside the fridge. Wait for say one week and then check. If the result will be different than I expect I will fill your magic fridge with the best Czech beer:D .

i think another factor to consider is that cooling down the birdie encourages moisture to condense on the feathers. after the birdies are cooled and you take them out of the fridge, moisture in the air will condense onto the fibers of the relatively colder birdies, achieving the goal of moistening them.

just another theory.

The experiment "Trapped" needs to perform is to put 2 glasses of water in the fridge, one covered with Saran wrap, the other one exposed to the environment inside the fridge. I will guarantee you the uncovered one will dry up first.

:)

Originally posted by AKFT
The experiment "Trapped" needs to perform is to put 2 glasses of water in the fridge, one covered with Saran wrap, the other one exposed to the environment inside the fridge. I will guarantee you the uncovered one will dry up first.

:)

Again incorrect. What we are trying to compare? Tube of shuttles outside the fridge and inside the fridge. You claim that it is nonsense to keep birdies in the fridge because it will dry faster in the fridge than outside. And what you propose as experiment? Put two glasses into the fridge, minimize vaporization on one of them and after some time compare what glass vaporized more. Common man...:rolleyes:

I started my experiment yesterday evening. Unfortunately the reletive humidity here was 73-74%, so the end result will be clearly visible maybe yesterday morning. I'll make snaps and post it on friday if it is visible.

And the most important thing. Before the experiment ends we cannot be sure who of us is right. So it is highly unfair to call me Trapped already now.

Originally posted by kwun


i think another factor to consider is that cooling down the birdie encourages moisture to condense on the feathers. after the birdies are cooled and you take them out of the fridge, moisture in the air will condense onto the fibers of the relatively colder birdies, achieving the goal of moistening them.

just another theory.

I think it is good one. And I think that it would be good to open the tube right after putting it out of the fridge. The higher is the temperature difference, the more dew on the shuttles.

I put one cup of water into the fridge and similar cup with the same amount of water outside the fridge. Then I waited for 4 days. As you can see, water in the cup from fridge evaporized less than than water from outside cup.

Conclusion. Storing shuttles in the fridge prevents them to dry. :D

thanks TN, this is a great experiment. :)

Cute. Really convincing results. I am sorry if you had to take time off your Nobel winning projects to do this "experiment".

:rolleyes:

I personally think that there is no need to store them in the fridge if living in HK. What are your opinions?

i believe so. HK is so humid when compared to n. america

Hmm, just to add some input here. I put in my electronic humidity meter in the fridge for a couple of hours. On the top shelf, RH = 62%, on the bottom, RH = 56%.

This value is about the same I generally have outside the fridge (or the entire appartment).

Hmm, just to add some input here. I put in my electronic humidity meter in the fridge for a couple of hours. On the top shelf, RH = 62%, on the bottom, RH = 56%.

This just proves my point. 60% RH at about 4 degrees C translates to a lower percentage RH at ROOM TEMPERATURE. i.e. things that are put inside the fridge will be dried up. If you want to rehydrate the birds, steam them. Those who live in humid places don't have to worry. They may actually have to keep them in the fridge so they don't get moldy!

Originally posted by trapped-never
I put one cup of water into the fridge and similar cup with the same amount of water outside the fridge. Then I waited for 4 days. As you can see, water in the cup from fridge evaporized less than than water from outside cup.

Conclusion. Storing shuttles in the fridge prevents them to dry. :D

Interesting experiment. However you forget that the temperature outside your fridge is higher than inside, therefore water should always evaporate more quickly outside. Also even if the temperature is the same, then why would you have a fridge:) , there is more air movement outside the fridge also causing quicker evaporation.

Since the fridge is being opened at least occasionally the humidity should be similar. But if you kept it closed for a long time, maybe a few days, then inside the fridge should be less humid.


Oh yeah and QWERTY, you're in Manila, why on Earth would you have to worry about keeping your shuttles moist? You should be worried about them getting so wet the glue stops holding the feathers.
:D

i'm not entirely convinced by this experiment... why is my chicken always so dry after putting in the fride for a few days!!... i'd leave my fried chicken outside for a few days to compare if it didn't have so much "stuff" growing on it (dont think eating it is safe :rolleyes: )

Shuttles is fridge? Toilet? This is the first! WHAT IS MY MUM GONNA SAY WHEN SHE SEES SHUTTLES WITH HER CHICKEN?! lol. Or in the toilet, for that matter.

Originally posted by GarlicJoe
Hmm, just to add some input here. I put in my electronic humidity meter in the fridge for a couple of hours. On the top shelf, RH = 62%, on the bottom, RH = 56%.

This value is about the same I generally have outside the fridge (or the entire appartment).

The result really surprised me. I do not know what to say. Are you sure that you have just normal fridge without humidity control? I really cannot imagine how water can condense on fridge walls if there is not 100% RH. I have to think about it again. Finally constructive discussion. Thanks

Originally posted by Reynar
>Interesting experiment. However you forget that the temperature outside your >fridge is higher than inside, therefore water should always evaporate more quickly >outside. Also even if the temperature is the same, then why would you have a >fridge:) , there is more air movement outside the fridge also causing quicker >evaporation.
I thought that evaporation level is dependent on RH of the neighbourhood. Am I wrong? Is it dependent just on the temperature? I have to relate to textbook...

>Since the fridge is being opened at least occasionally the humidity should be >similar. But if you kept it closed for a long time, maybe a few days, then inside the >fridge should be less humid.

Well if the fridge is closed then temperature nor the pressure changes. I do not understand why the humidity should change then? Any ideas?

Originally posted by GarlicJoe
Hmm, just to add some input here. I put in my electronic humidity meter in the fridge for a couple of hours. On the top shelf, RH = 62%, on the bottom, RH = 56%.

This value is about the same I generally have outside the fridge (or the entire appartment).

I put humidity meter into the fridge yesterday. This morning it was 96%. Outside RH was 67%. I have very standard Electrolux ERE3000 fridge.

Again I do not know how to comment your result. Was your measurement device used inside recommended temperature range? Could you make following test to check if the device works correctly? Pack the sensor into the wet cloth or put it on the wet spongue. After some time (I guess 1 hour should be OK) the device should indicate 100% RH.

Originally posted by AKFT
This just proves my point. 60% RH at about 4 degrees C translates to a lower percentage RH at ROOM TEMPERATURE. i.e. things that are put inside the fridge will be dried up. If you want to rehydrate the birds, steam them. Those who live in humid places don't have to worry. They may actually have to keep them in the fridge so they don't get moldy!
That was good one. I have one more idea. If you want to dry your laundry really fast hang it into the fridge :D .

TRAPPED:

You are so full of .............................. good ideas.

Originally posted by trapped-never
I put one cup of water into the fridge and similar cup with the same amount of water outside the fridge. Then I waited for 4 days. As you can see, water in the cup from fridge evaporized less than than water from outside cup.

Conclusion. Storing shuttles in the fridge prevents them to dry. :D

It would be interesting to see the difference of fridge vs. bathroom. Do you keep your bathroom door closed to keep the moisture in?

Originally posted by trapped-never
I put one cup of water into the fridge and similar cup with the same amount of water outside the fridge. Then I waited for 4 days. As you can see, water in the cup from fridge evaporized less than than water from outside cup.

Conclusion. Storing shuttles in the fridge prevents them to dry. :D

Unless the comparison is about the weight. For volumn, the one in fridge has some ice in it, and we know once water become ice, the volumn increases...

There are portable machines that humidify shuttlecocks when the court humidity is very low and dry. They are used in Japan. You just take the machine along with you and plug it into an electrical supply in the badminton hall. An equipment supplier in Hong Kong is considering bringing the machines from Japan, for the dryer winter months.
However, Lam Fei, the doyen of Hong Kong badminton, suggests a more economical solution: on the night before you play, you fill a wide-enough glass with 1/2" to 1" of warm water and dip each shuttle into the glass, feathers into the water, and take it out immediately and rest the shuttle, with the feather side on a flat surface, and leave overnight. The cork and all parts that are glued must not be dipped into the water. When morning comes you just put all the shuttles back in the tube, and presto, the shuttles will not know what low humidity is.

I just steam my shuttles 2 days before they will be used......with a normal vegetable steaming pan :D Works fine - I can do six at a time, and they need only be in there briefly. I store them in my bedroom.

The only problem with this method is that I once forgot about the shuttles, and came back just in time to prevent the fire alarm from triggering. The water had all evaporated and the shuttles had burned. It was a horrible, horrible smell.

Did you add mashrooms, vegetables, and some meat in the pan? :D:D:D

I hope the shuttle doesn't taste too bad :p !

Originally posted by Gollum
I just steam my shuttles 2 days before they will be used......with a normal vegetable steaming pan :D Works fine - I can do six at a time, and they need only be in there briefly. I store them in my bedroom.

The only problem with this method is that I once forgot about the shuttles, and came back just in time to prevent the fire alarm from triggering. The water had all evaporated and the shuttles had burned. It was a horrible, horrible smell.

This goes to show what a little imagination can do wonders. It could be improved if you can create steam without the heat, as the glue in the shuttle doesn't like being softened too much.

Yes - initially I was worried about melting or softening the glue with heat. However, that does not seem to be a problem in practice. If the glue is softened at all, then the shuttle will still be destroyed before this becomes relevant. That is, the feathers always break before the glued supports come apart.

It's hard to measure (well, I've never bothered....) but steaming the shuttles does seem to prolong their life slightly.