-<?plugin RedirectTo page=ZincDendrites ?>
+The original HammondFaq identified the MetallicFuzz which sometimes grows inside of Hammonds as "Cadmium Dendrites". After much discussion it appears this fuzz is actually composed of Zinc not Cadmium.
-The zinc plating on
the steel components
of Hammond organs sometimes can grow metallic fur or ''dendrites''. I
have no idea what the actual growth mechanism is (if you know, please enlighten us!). Heat and humidity can tend
to speed the growth of dendrites
.
+Therefore,
the contents
of the page
have been moved
to ZincDendrites
.
-Even scientist don't know the actual reasons for dendrite growth. The gravity induced convection makes it impossible to track the dendrite growth. Therefore they made an experiment, that flew with the space shuttle:
-Isothermal Dendritic Growth Experiment (IDGE). One thing is known for sure: the solified zinc surface shows the dendrite structure already. And the fresh zinc surface is chemically active. If humidity is high, a zinc solute can occur, which leads to the growth. A way out of this is to plate the surfaces with chrome to passify the zinc. A simple lacquer layer does the same.
-In any case, the ''dendrites'', being metallic and therefore ''conductive'' can cause all kinds of mischief in your organ. Dendrites are often the cause problems in the vibrato [Scanner], and the [Vibrato] switch assembly, where they cause MotorBoating, or choppy vibrato; and also in PercussionSwitchAssembly, and in the manuals, where they can cause the [Percussion] to misbehave, or can cause strange ''hums'', funny cross-talk like sounds and other wierd symptoms.
-Dendrites can also grow in/on the swell capacitor (where they'll cause terrible noises.)
-
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-!Zapping
-
-Many people claim they have successfully cured dendrite problems in all of these places by "''zapping''" --- putting enough current through the little whiskers to burn them out.
-
-Some people advocate the careful use of reasonably low voltages (''e.g.'' nine volt "transistor radio" batteries) to zap dendrites, while others swear by using the ''B+'' supply (a few hundred (__''!''__) volts) as a source of zap.
-
-__WARNING: ''Zapping can clearly be hazardous to the health of you organ. Please make sure you understand what you are doing, and appreciate the possible consequences before you attempt it.''__
-
-I, personally, am extremely leary of ''zapping''. I have used the nine volt battery approach to cure percussion problems which were caused by short in the upper manual. In my experience this is a temporary fix. The shorts tend to recur (usually after moving the organ).
-
-Also, see ManualZapping.
-
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-
-Clearly the ideal fix for dendrite problems is to open up whatever component has the dendrites a clean them out. (Compressed air, shop-vacs, and sticks covered with double-stick carpet tape have all been recommend as useful tools for this task.)
-
-
-See also HowToRebuildTheVibratoScanner
-Reportedly, cadmium and/or camium oxide is highly toxic and/or carcinogenic. Fortunately, however, it's also been reported that the whiskers which grow
in Hammond organs are zinc, not cadmium. I'm not 100% certain about any of this though, so you might want to be careful around that fuzz
. (If you know something more, add it here, please!)
+Reportedly, cadmium and/or camium oxide is highly toxic and/or carcinogenic. Fortunately, however, it seems there is no cadmium
in Hammond organs.
