[CAUT] How many DC tanks, (was undercover Heat n Bond)

Andrew Anderson andrew at andersonmusic.com
Tue Feb 27 21:37:10 MST 2007


Barbara,
I didn't see how big a piano this is.  7' and above I'd keep two 
tanks if you are seeing anything under 40% Rh.

Andrew Anderson,
At 07:17 PM 2/26/2007, you wrote:
>Hi Mark,
>
>Thanks for your responses about the Heat n Bond.  I received the 
>information you sent to Roger Wheelock and am ready to charge ahead.
>
>I'd like your opinion (or anybody else's).  Here in Central Illinois 
>we go through some pretty large humidity swings.  I serviced, for 
>the first time, a Steinway B, in an majestic, though old, brick 
>country house (high, high ceilings, hot water heat), where they do 
>not normally use air conditioning in the summer.  This piano has a 
>DC system, installed by a guy who generally makes "big deal" out of 
>a lot of stuff.  Anyway, it's a two humidifier system, under the 
>beams; he attached plywood the same rectangular shape of the baffles 
>to the beams.  Then the tanks hang pretty far below the plywood, the 
>baffles hang between the tanks and the plywood.  Darn, why didn't I 
>have my camera with me.  It looks genuinely hideous and I still had 
>to do a significant pitch raise, so I'm not sure how much this 
>installation is really helping.  Then there is an issue with the 
>keys in the summer.  I would like to do an in-between the beams 
>installation with undercover, and an added heater bar under the 
>keybed.  I'm also recommending an Edwards string cover.  I think 
>that the high humidity in the summer is the bigger problem.  OK, so 
>here's the question.  If I switched to a one tank system and used an 
>undercover, do you think it would do the job?  My not very good 
>hygrometer said that the humidity level was at 28% when I was there 
>last week, so it doesn't appear to be one of those horrifically dry 
>environments (for winter).   Would you automatically put a two tank 
>system in a B or would you only put two tanks in when dryness was extreme?
>
>Thanks,
>
>Barbara Richmond, RPT
>near Peoria, Illinois
>
>
>
>----- Original Message ----- From: "Cramer, Mark" <Cramer at brandonu.ca>
>To: <caut at ptg.org>
>Sent: Sunday, February 25, 2007 6:35 PM
>Subject: Re: [CAUT] Undercover Heat n Bond
>
>
>>The Heat n bond seems to renew itself as often as I have a chance to test it.
>>
>>Here's the rub though, as for the prospect of servicing the tank, 
>>clients have become as adept at excuse-making as some of our lazy 
>>colleagues ;>).
>>
>>When I repeat the simple demonstration of peeling back the cloth 
>>then re-sealing with a warm iron, I get the same look as from a 
>>teenager witnessing the miraculous installation of a fresh roll of 
>>toilet paper!? (Whoa dude!)
>>
>>I'm beginning to realize that no installation technique, short of 
>>remote control, will encourage (most) clients to self-service their 
>>humidifiers. So to that end, the "iron-on under-cover," though 
>>durable, is likely only as useful as the attending technician is willing.
>>
>>I'm happy with it. It remains simpler, faster and tidier than any 
>>alternative I'm aware of. But then, I'm also resolved to be 
>>babysitting pad replacement for all my favourite clients from now 
>>til retirement.... we do get to, don't we? :>)
>>
>>best regards,
>>Mark Cramer,
>>Brandon University
>>
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>>Thanks, Mark.
>>
>>And how has the Heat n Bond held up?
>>
>>Barbara
>>
>>----- Original Message ----- From: "Mark Cramer" <Cramer at brandonu.ca>
>>To: "College and University Technicians" <caut at ptg.org>
>>Sent: Friday, February 23, 2007 12:01 PM
>>Subject: Re: [CAUT] Undercover (install notes)
>>
>>
>>>Hi Barbara,
>>>
>>>the last time I tuned this piano (December), the lowest tenor note (B2
>>>perhaps?) was 10 cts (9. something) flat, with following notes less and
>>>less
>>>so, until about D4, where everything was pretty much on pitch all the way
>>>to
>>>the top.
>>>
>>>Prior, the lowest tenor would be 25 - 30 cts sharp or flat, depending on
>>>the
>>>season, with pitches falling or rising incrementally well into the 5th and
>>>6th octaves. It was also common to find the bass 4 or 5cts flat during dry
>>>seasons.
>>>
>>>So I'll call this a success, though I've had more dramatic results with
>>>other installations.
>>>
>>>Yesterday I tuned a GS-30 with the same installation. Nearly the same
>>>curve
>>>(15cts flat at B2  rising towards octave 4) though I suspect in both
>>>instances, if the humidifier was never allowed to run dry, the pitch
>>>would've been held to within 4 or 5 cents at B2.
>>>
>>>(Tattle-tale humidifier pads turn "cardboard stiff" all the way down, if
>>>allowed to run dry. Re-wetting them won't change this... and "they" think
>>>I'm clairvoyant ... ;>)
>>>
>>>thanks,
>>>Mark C.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org]On Behalf Of
>>>Barbara Richmond
>>>Sent: Friday, February 23, 2007 11:30 AM
>>>To: College and University Technicians
>>>Subject: Re: [CAUT] Undercover (install notes)
>>>
>>>
>>>Hi Mark,
>>>
>>>OK, I'd like to hear the "rest of the story."  How much of a change did
>>>the
>>>undercover make? (in cents if possible, please).  I don't doubt that it
>>>made
>>>a difference, I just want to know how much.
>>>
>>>Thanks,
>>>
>>>Barbara Richmond, RPT
>>>
>>



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