Piano On Ice.

[KCW]

Hi list,
	This is just my opinion.  As long as the piano is stored BELOW
water freezing point, the piano shouldn't be damaged.  Why?  because the
water in the wood won't evaporate therefore the wood won't shrink (is this
the right word?)  However, if you store a piano right above the freezing
point, the climate will be very dry and the water content of the wood will
become very low without humility control.  You mentioned that some piano
had rusty strings because water condensed on strings when piano was
brought to "normal" room temperature too rapidly (that's because wood and
metal have different heat velocity gradient).  Obviousely, the water vapor
is coming from the wood!  I actually believe it's better to store a piano
below freezing point (with sufficient water content) than to store a piano
in a regular home where humility changes _constantly_ because once the
piano is below freezing point, the water content of the wood NEVER
changes --> the best humility control you can possibly have (well,
almost)!  It's a good idea to bring the temperature back gradualy.  Treat
it like your car's engine, don't heat up your car's engine too fast in
winter (as recommented by virtualy all engine builders).  As a rule of
dumb, always make sure the wood has sufficient water content before
"freezing" (it should).

Kuang

On Wed, 15 Oct 1997 kitster@Polarnet.com wrote:

> I was always told cold storage would damage a piano.  My own experiences
> over the last 5 or 10 years have caused me to have some doubt about that.
> 
> I service pianos annually that spend about 5 months a year in below
> freezing conditions, with temps as low as -60 F.  Of course at these temps
> there is NO humidity.  I recently was hired by a customer to look over a
> slightly used Kawai grand that a local dealer admitted to me had spent the
> winter in cold storage. 
> 
> In none of the cases mentioned above have I found any damage at all.  And I
> really looked for it.  Sevaral of the pianos are old uprights that have
> been going through this cycle for 20+ years.  Any gradual damage (failing
> glue joints, delaminations, etc) should have shown itself by now.  I have
> no proof of it but believe that the gradual cool down and warm up of normal
> seasonal changes protects cold stored pianos.  I have seen rust on strings
> of pianos warmed up too quickly when moisture condenses on metal parts.  I
> always tell customers to warm up pianos gradually if they need to store
> them cold.
> 
> Just my opinion, of course.
> 
> Kit Cleworth
> Fairbanks, Alaska
> 
> 
> >Greetings PTG List,
> >     Let me first say that I have been privileged to  be able to
> >read through this list for a few weeks, now.  I have learned so
> >very much.  I am a tuning student, who has had some training at
> >the Piano Hospital and Training Center in Vancouver Washington,
> >so, like all the rest of you, I am always seeking for answers.
> >     I am in an  unacontrollable situation with regards to my
> >Yamaha console.  I am going to have to leave my piano in an
> >unheated trailer for about one month.  The piano is ten years'
> >old, and I have kept it in the best shape with regard to tuning
> >and regulation  as I can.
> >     What do you think might happen structurally?  The
> >temperatures will be around freezing in a dry building, where
> >there is fairly low humidity?
> >     Any knowledgeable comments would be greatly appreciated.
> >     Again, I want to say how thankful to all of you I am to be
> >able to listen in to all of your discussions.
> >     Happy tuning. 
> >                              Sincerely,
> >                              Vinny Samarco
> >
> >
> >
>