Thanks, Susan, I'm always happy to be adding to the arsenal. Here's how I use keytop/acetone: Take a metal tuning mute handle. Dip it in the mixture, come out with a small (and it's small!) drop, put it in the offending string groove(s). I feel like this is the ultimate control--much less is applied than with an eye dropper and it's better than a syringe, because you can actually see how much is being used. Because it's so fast, it's one of those tools that is always with me on stage...... Later! Barbara Richmond ----- Original Message ----- From: "Susan Kline" <skline@peak.org> To: "College and University Technicians" <caut@ptg.org> Sent: Tuesday, May 24, 2005 12:07 AM Subject: Re: [CAUT] Self voicing hammers/work hardening > Hi, Barbara > > I got my shellac flakes from this place on the net -- I just checked that > they are still there. > > http://www.woodfinishingsupplies.com/Shellac.htm > > They seem to carry Behlen products, which Ed suggested. They also have 200 > proof denatured alcohol, which has no methanol or water in it. 9% > isopropyl, and a couple of other things in it. I've used bulk ethanol from > the liquor store, 190 proof, and it works well. People have told me that > some states don't allow 190 proof to be sold, though. > > I did try very dilute keytop/acetone on a few notes once, and I must admit > that I heard that spicky clicky sound ever afterward, even after > needling -- though I didn't go so far as to try to soak it out with > acetone. It was after that experience, and after reading a hint from > Horace saying that Steinway used to use shellac (they'd just use whatever > their finishing department used) that I tried shellac and really like it. > Nontoxic, as well, especially if made up with pure ethanol. Nice little > lac bug -- > friend of man. > > The color -- well, one doesn't want the hammers grossly stained, like they > would be with some shellacs, but having just a little color in there (like > the ultrablonde color) isn't totally bad. It lets one see exactly how far > the solution is wicking. And, like Horace says, how they sound is what > really matters. > > Regards, > Susan >
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