Key Leads

[dempsey@MARSHALL.EDU]

Don't know if the addition of beeswax helps counteract oxidation or not.
However, years ago I spent a lot of time casting my own bullets for
muzzle loading firearms and the conventional wisdom was to add beeswax to
the molten lead( causes one hell of a commotion in the lead pot). The idea
was that this helped bring impurities in the lead ( other metals too hard
to be suitable for that use to float to the surface where it could be
skimmed off, yielding a purer lead.

Paul E. Dempsey, RPT
Marshall University 
Huntington, WV

On Tue, 29 Jun 1999, Tony Caught wrote:

> Hi List
> 
> When I was working in China the keyleads had beeswax  added to the lead
> prior to pouring into the moulds.  I assumed that this beeswax was added to
> counteract the oxidisation of the lead.   True or false ?
> 
> Tony Caught caute@accessnt.com.au
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: harvey <harvey@greenwood.net>
> To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, 29 June 1999 4:09
> Subject: Re: Key Leads
> 
> 
> > Dave, I'm gonna reach out with a little speculation. I don't have a lot of
> > emperical evidence to support these statements, just several experiences
> > with this phenomenon. In mentally summarizing past incidences of pianos,
> > their vintage, and their respective locations/environment, I'm coming up
> > with "patterns".
> >
> > Environment notwithstanding, I'm beginning to think that lead by any other
> > name isn't necessary lead. Unfortunately, there aren't many -other- uses
> of
> > lead in the same piano where we can get references. So, in simplistic
> > terms, compare key leads with [pot metal or 'growing'] action brackets,
> > plastic elbows, and various other parts that don't fair well over time.
> >
> > It's quite possible that key leads were/are purchased in quantity from a
> > sub-contractor, rather than being poured 'in-house'. It's also conceivable
> > that, at certain moments in history (and is still being done), either
> > someone had a bright idea ("let's make this better/cheaper by adding 'x'
> to
> > the mix"), or, the raw materials were actually contaminated, contaning
> some
> > foreign substance that actually causes excessive oxidizing and swelling
> > when exposed to time/elements.
> >
> > Whether my speculation is right or wrong is up for conjecture. Also, I
> have
> > no contest with sealing existing key holes with something. However, we
> > already know what does -not- work (sanding, chiseling, etc.). So, the next
> > time I encounter this situation, I'm going with replacement key leads.
> >
> > Just my take,
> >
> 
> 
>