OK, my experience in shopping for a microwave was that on the showroom floor, one never turned the oven on without a cup of water in it. I just looked on the net for information, but only saw a statement that "The oven should only be run with a load of water or food." The site didn't define food, though. ;-) I think moisture is the key here. Without it the oven might behave as though it's empty and then arcing or sparking could be a problem. br ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ed Sutton" <ed440 at mindspring.com> To: "Barbara Richmond" <piano57 at insightbb.com>; "College and University Technicians" <caut at ptg.org> Sent: Sunday, May 13, 2007 9:54 PM Subject: Re: [PHISH] Re: [CAUT] Critter-damaged punchings > Barb- > > I don't know. > > Ed > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Barbara Richmond" <piano57 at insightbb.com> > To: "Ed Sutton" <ed440 at mindspring.com>; "College and University > Technicians" <caut at ptg.org> > Sent: Sunday, May 13, 2007 10:30 PM > Subject: [PHISH] Re: [CAUT] Critter-damaged punchings > > >> Ed, >> >> Maybe I've misunderstood all these years, but aren't you supposed to have >> something with some form of liquid/moisture in a microwave when running >> it or it (the appliance) might be damaged? Would potential critter eggs >> supply enough moisture? >> >> Barbara Richmond >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Ed Sutton" <ed440 at mindspring.com> >> To: "College and University Technicians" <caut at ptg.org> >> Sent: Sunday, May 13, 2007 12:28 PM >> Subject: Re: [CAUT] Critter-damaged punchings >> >> >>> Annie- >>> >>> How about microwaving them? >>> >>> Ed Sutton >>> >>> ----- Original Message ----- >>> From: "Annie Grieshop" <annie at allthingspiano.com> >>> To: "College and University Technicians" <caut at ptg.org> >>> Sent: Sunday, May 13, 2007 12:33 PM >>> Subject: [PHISH] Re: [CAUT] Critter-damaged punchings >>> >>> >>>> Israel, >>>> >>>> Put the new punchings in a cloth or mesh bag, toss the bag in a >>>> clothesdryer, and let it tumble for 15-20 minutes. That will certainly >>>> kill >>>> any larvae and probably do in the eggs, as well, without any chemicals >>>> at >>>> all. Heat would guarantee the eggs are killed (and it shouldn't harm >>>> the >>>> punchings -- try it with a few to find out), but even cold-air tumbling >>>> will >>>> probably do a thorough job on them. >>>> >>>> The bag does need to get thrown around inside the dryer, so you might >>>> have >>>> to add tennis balls or tennis shoes (the same procedure as fluffing a >>>> down >>>> comforter). >>>> >>>>>From your description, my guess is the damage was done before the >>>>>pianos >>>> left the factory and is not an ongoing problem. But better to have >>>> some >>>> extra insurance. >>>> >>>> Annie Grieshop >>>> >>>>> -----Original Message----- >>>>> From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org]On Behalf Of >>>>> Israel Stein >>>>> Sent: Sunday, May 13, 2007 9:39 AM >>>>> To: caut at ptg.org >>>>> Subject: [CAUT] Critter-damaged punchings >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> At 11:01 AM 5/11/2007, James Ellis wrote: >>>>> >Whenever I would find moth-critter damage to punchings, I would strip >>>>> >the >>>>> >keybed clean - puncings, key cloth, and all, clean the whole piano >>>>> >thoroughly, looking for any evidence of moth eggs. If I found them, >>>>> >the >>>>> >job would become more extensive. After that, there would usually be >>>>> >no >>>>> >problem, provided the piano was cleaned once in a while. >>>>> > >>>>> >Tuners Supply Company used to have a moth proofing liquid called >>>>> >X-Hale. >>>>> >Fumes from that stuff were so strong they would make your eyes >>>>> burn. There >>>>> >was no water in it. One would soak the insides of the piano >>>>> with it, close >>>>> >it up, and cover it for 24 hours. No live critters or eggs would be >>>>> >left >>>>> >after that, and the funes would soon dissipate after opening the >>>>> piano back >>>>> >up. >>>>> > >>>>> >That was 60 years ago. I don't have that problem now. Israel, >>>>> do you find >>>>> >the damage in several pianos? If so, there is a common source of >>>>> >these >>>>> >critters, and perhaps you should get the pest control people >>>>> >involved. >>>>> >Clean the pianos out, and replace anything that shows any sign of >>>>> >critter >>>>> >gnawing. You don't want to leave any critter eggs in there. >>>>> > >>>>> >Good Luck, Jim Ellis >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Jim, >>>>> >>>>> Thanks for the information. We found the problem in several pianos - >>>>> but only in Asian ones: Yamahas and the Korean Kohler & Campbells, >>>>> all about 10 years old. No problems with American pianos - and we do >>>>> have lots of much older Steinways, Baldwins, Wurlitzers and Everetts >>>>> at the school. So we suspect that the critters are imported with the >>>>> pianos from the source country and are not a local infestation. I >>>>> hear that this is common. Since there are no wool furnishings around >>>>> here - curtains, stuffed chairs, carpets, etc. - I don't see how >>>>> these critters would spread from piano to piano. Add I don't see >>>>> moths flying around. But then there is the theater department on the >>>>> other end of the building - costume shop, wardrobe, prop storage... >>>>> Hmm... Maybe I should check with them about moth damage in their >>>>> stuff... >>>>> >>>>> Yamaha sent us a bunch of replacement punchings free - but I hesitate >>>>> to put them in pianos, since they might be the source of the >>>>> infestation... Maybe fumigating them with or dipping them in one of >>>>> the suggested substances before use might be a good idea? >>>>> >>>>> Israel Stein. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>> >>> >> >
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