Sizing

[Lance Lafargue]

Hey Avery.
  I guess it depends on how tight everything is.  I think I'd be _careful_
since the system is newly back on again.  I use alcohol/water often,
sometimes adding a dryer if needed. You could use pure alcohol first with no
water or heat, I don't think that would overdo anything.  I usually size new
Renner parts with pure alcohol.  Then step up to a low % of water with low
heat.  I always used Methanol, but now since it's so toxic and hard to find,
I use Everclear (grain alcohol for getting drunk).  Everclear is a brand
name, it also comes in other names like "Diesel".  If it doesn't work you
can drink it. :) I would also leave a hygrometer in the hall overnight (on
the plate) that holds memory to see what's going on in there.  I carry the
one from Dampp-Chaser (Radio Shack has them, too, with Memory).  There are
articles in the Journal if you have the CD Rom, etc., too.  In this climate
that you and I share, I think alcohol is a MUST.  Good luck with it.

P.S.  The Protek helps, too, I agree.  I would also remove the keys, polish
and lube them (McLube 444), lube the whippen tops, teflon powder the
knuckles and get the bushings on the keys sized with a key bushing iron to
get everything back to where it should be.  The high humidity has changed
everything, I'm sure.  That alone will make it play better and won't take
long.
Lance Lafargue, RPT
Mandeville, LA
New Orleans Chapter, PTG
lancelafargue@bellsouth.net

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-caut@ptg.org [mailto:owner-caut@ptg.org]On Behalf Of Avery
Todd
Sent: Friday, September 07, 2001 10:37 AM
To: caut@ptg.org
Subject: Sizing


List,

I'm sure most of you know about the flood and humidity problems
here in Houston. Because of what I assume are humidity related
problems, our newest 'D' (app. 3 yrs. old) is exhibiting some
excess friction in some of the hammer flanges and may also be
in the wippen flanges (I haven't checked that yet.)

Since I really hate to go in and do a bunch of repinning because
of what might be changing anyway in the near future, would:

    1. Sizing with alcohol/water be a viable option? If so, what
proportions? Is this probably my best long-term solution?
    2. Should I try to wait a while longer and see if it will ease
up any since our humidity control system is back working again
(for app. 2-3 weeks now).
    3. Or should I just go ahead and do the repinning and get it
over with?

I've never done much sizing of flange bushings, so I'd appreciate
some advice and/or other solutions. Our first concert of the season
is tonight and the primary pianist has decided to use the rebuilt
'D' instead of the one he normally uses.

Interestingly, the rebuilt one, which has all German Renner parts,
has had none of this kind of problem. Even back before they got our
humidity control system going again.

Thanks for any help/advice you can give me.

Avery