Pin Dope

[Robert S. Bussell]

At 06:52 PM 1/30/96 -0700, you wrote:
>
>>Try thin viscosity Hot stuff
>>Robert S. Bussell RPT
>
>Interesting... I wondered if anyone else had tried this.  We have had good
>success with it also.  I think it has an advantage over the traditional pin
>dope in that it doesn't change the wood into an oily secondary material.
> Doesn't Garfield's have glycerin in it?
>
>The super glue, being very thin, actually travels down the capillaries of the
>wood and then hardens.  Try it on a piece of scrap pinblock sometime.  The
>stuff travels incredibly. When it hardens, it seizes the pin,(which adds
>tuning stability) but that bond can be easily broken and tuning is pretty
>much the same after that.  I usually put it in after the tuning and walk
>away.  No second and third visit.  The glue acts to prevents slippage by
>grabbing the pin, by filling small cracks as it travels down the wood's
>capillaries, and by replacing the air in the dry wood with a solid.  It has a
>very positive effect.  Additional applications are possible and thicker
>viscosities can be used to fill bigger problems.
>
>Speaking of which, I  worry that the Kawai that Don Rose talked about may
>have suffered some separated laminations of the pinblock...and what will Pin
>Dope or even oversized pins do for that?  Super glue does offer some, albeit
>limited, ability to help with this problem.
>
>Personally, I was surprised to read that any of you recommend pin dope,  (my
>mother always said, "Why do you think they call it dope?) and have had
>success with it.  I hadn't had success but I guess I wasn't diligent enough
>after reading how those of you with success have used it.
>
>The same precautions are warranted with the super glue obviously, i.e.
>removing the action and placing newspaper underneath to catch a spill.  The
>stuff runs everywhere...be careful!!  If you tip the bottle over get out of
>the house, you're finished!
>
>David Sanderson
>Littleton, MA
>Pianobiz@aol.com
>
Thanks David,
        I didn't have time to explain myself last night.  I have used it it
in emergencies on near lifeless pianos and had some good results. Yes, I
have been able to tune these pianos several times afterwards but I consider
it a last resort method and recommend more traditional repair/replacement
methods.
        Two other tips to add to your precautions, DON'T GET IT ON THE COILS
OR YOUR DEADMEAT! and use the teflon tube that Dryburgh provides to direct
it into the tuning pin hole. To keep the tube in the in nozzle insert the
tube into the nozzle first then spray the nozzle with accelorator ( there is
always a little excess glue at the top to create a seal around the nozzle.
When finished cut down the nozzle or just throw it away and get a new one.



Robert S. Bussell RPT
Indianapolis In.
rbussell@iquest.net