Don Mannino wrote: > > Keith A. McGavern, RPT wrote: > > >Question from a customer... > > Do high gloss finishes allow the wood to breathe?<< > > Some questions in reply: > > Do you want the wood to breathe? If so, why? > > How fast should it breathe? Is fast or slow better? > > Don Mannino RPT > 74473.624@compuserve.comHello All, (Shouldn't this list have a personal name that we could use when addressing this esteemed assembly? Perhaps something like Ingebretson or Sam would provide a more personal opening. ;-)) The question of whether or not wood should breathe is the real issue. We are not talking about air movement; we are concerned with water vapor movement. As the wood "breathes" water vapor, it expands and contracts. Is this what we want? In the wooden boat business, three substantial coats of epoxy resin have been shown to prevent water vapor movement in and out of wood. Contact the West System people about more information about this. Polyester resins in fiber glass boats are not entirely waterproof: i.e. boats stored in water eventually develop gel coat blisters from water inside the structure. It seems to me that perhaps wood does not need to breathe. The less movement in a wooden piano structure, the more stable that structure will be. This might also be true with soundboards and bridges, but loading those elements with a finish heavy enough to prevent vapor transfer appears to have a negative effect on the tone. This whole area is facinating. Perhaps some of the other experts here can provide more insight. Paul Stephens, RPT
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