Damp chaser for loose pins

[DGPEAKE@AOL.COM]

In a message dated 2/21/99 6:01:45 PM Pacific Standard Time, fcahill@erols.com
writes:

<< In Randy Potter's course, he says that Damp Chaser systems will cure
 loose tuning  pins.  Bear in mind that Randy lives in the center of
 Oregon where humidity can drop to 10% in the winter.  So it's possible
 that what he says will indeed work where he lives. Randy's a straight
 shooter so I have no reason to doubt him.
 
 Here in VA, humidity hits 90% or more for weeks at a time in the summer.
 Even with Air Conditioning, humidty will be 60-70% inside. Therefore,
 the piano surely gets humid. In the winter, humidity is about 30-35% in
 most homes. So I feel that damp chasers, which maintain 45% humidity,
 won't do a thing for loose pins here in VA.
 
 Anyone have any observations on this?
 
 P.S. I'm not knocking Randy, he's a heck of nice guy and has taught me
 alot. This is just something I've been curious about for a number of
 years.
 
 Frank Cahill
 Associate Member, Piano Technicians Guild
 Northern Va
 
 
In Portland the humidity rarely gets below 60% even during the winter. Our
home has 2 X 6 construction, with insulation in the outside walls, floors and
ceilings.  We can cook our woodstove to around 72 degrees yet the humidity
stays around 40-50%.  Older homes may have a problem with this type of heat.
The best way is to measure the humidity, especially if the piano has a
stability problem and then sell the DC system.  It will help with stability
and pinning problems although I doubt it will totally cure loose tuning pins.


Dave Peake, RPT
Oregon City, OR
Portland Chapter