[CAUT] Zein/felt

[Annie Grieshop]

As Ed wrote, zein is a corn protein and was developed as a shellac
substitute (particularly for food-grade shellac).  I stumbled across a
reference, wrote one of the producers for more info, and received a huge
sack of the stuff from the president of the company.  This sample is very
yellow, although I get the impression there are less colorful varieties.  It
smells wonderful and is completely inert and non-toxic.

If anyone's interesting in trying zein, I'll be glad to supply you with a
sample.

(And if you're wondering about "food-grade shellac", did you know that
Twinkies' ingredients include food-grade plaster of Paris?  Now that's
really scary... but explains a lot.)

Annie Grieshop

> -----Original Message-----
> From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org]On Behalf Of Ed
> Sutton
> Sent: Saturday, May 12, 2007 10:22 PM
> To: College and University Technicians
> Subject: Re: [CAUT] Zein/felt
>
>
> Oops!
> This was meant to go to Annie.  CAUT got copied in by accident.
> Well....anybody out there tried using zein for hammer voicing?
> (Zein is a protein extracted from corn or ather veggies, Annie
> discovered it
> and sent me a sample)
> Ed Sutton
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Ed Sutton" <ed440 at mindspring.com>
> To: <annie at allthingspiano.com>; "College and University Technicians"
> <caut at ptg.org>
> Sent: Saturday, May 12, 2007 10:38 PM
> Subject: [CAUT] Zein/felt
>
>
> > Annie-
> >
> > I dissolved some zein in 90% isopropyl alcohol.
> > It behaves somewhat like shellac. Discolored the felt somewhat.
> > It made a felt sample somewhat stiff, but it became flexible in
> response
> > to bending.
> > It behaves similar to shellac, though my guess is that the
> molecule chains
> > aren't as long.
> > It might be very good for hardening hammers...got a few
> thousand dollars
> > in case I mess up a set of hammers?
> >
> > Ed
>
>