Jumping tuning pins

[Richard M]

----------
> From: Scarecrow <Scarecrow@mystical.net>
> To: pianotech@byu.edu
> Subject: Re: Jumping tuning pins
> Date: Monday, December 02, 1996 2:18 AM
>
>
snip
> PS> I would definately say to avoid using the tuning pin
tightener..Every
> time I've seen it used, it ended up turning the pin block to mush.
> Well, good luck, let me know ifyou get to the root of the problem.
>
> Jonathan


I know this has been covered in the  last two weeks, and I'm sure there is
even more in the archives, but oil on the T pins was not addressed (this
time around).   The  recent mushy block  condition turned out to be an
instrument in an abnormaly wet climate.  (New Orleans).  I am wondering of
some of pianos in humid areas weren't treated with a "drop of light
machine oil" on the tuning pins to prevent rust from building up there.
Or more recently sprayed with WD 40.   BTW the WD means "water displacer".
    This could lead to a wealth of problems, mushey being one of them.  I
don't get a pretty picture envisioning the effects of oil on tuning pins
in the pin block  over the years. Then it gets treated with TP tightner.
Now it appears that the tightner is the culprit, if indeed you can tell
that it has been treated without having "seen it used".
	Since there are a number of technicians who have not seen this mushy
condition resulting from tuning pin tightner they themselves have used,
it would be helpful to have more details from those who have experienced
this.   Make and age of the piano.  There may  have been some stencils
that had mushy blocks to begin with.  The climate where the piano lived,
may have been the cause, or mistreatment with deleterious substances.

Richard Moody   ptt