At 10:45 AM 2/25/97 -0500, you wrote: :) Seriously, for >that hopefully rare situation where you have no option but to try dop- >ing the block, you might want to consider using a pin-tightener that >has withstood the test of time. Although there are a number of tradi- >tional-type solutions available, both slow and fast acting, the one >that appeared to be a almost universally endorsed was Garfield's Pin- >Block Restorer. You have to thin it 50/50 with alcohol and wait a >week or so before you can either tune the piano, or apply a second >treatment, so it's not as fast-acting as some of the others, but >many techs swear by it, instead of at it! Read the archives and decide >for yourself. After you've applied the pin-tightener, and AFTER you've >let the piano set for a week or so, you might want to also consider >setting the pins a little deeper into the pinblock, assuming you >have enough room between the string-coil and the plate. Whatever you >decide to do, Good Luck! You may need it! Les, I've used the Garfield/Methanol mix for about 20 years(test of time) and found it to be outstanding, especially in our dry climate. I only leave uprights on their backs for a day or two, and with grands I can pull the plastic off the action in about 24 hrs. Then wait a week or two. I also use the mix as a lubricant when shoving in oversize pins in semi-hopeless pianos. It's slick at first, then swells and tightens. PBR does ultimately damage the block(in SOMEone's lifetime), but is definitely the most economical solution in a lot of situations. Guy Nichols,RPT, chapter 799 nicho@lascruces.com If at first you don't succeed, so much for skydiving.
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