leather key bushings

[Doug Hershberger]

Jon and list,
   Maybe there is less shrinkage using Tightbond, I don't know but I've had
good success with it. Like I said in my earlier post the pianos I'm working
on  are fairly new Yamaha's. I'm sure the source of the leather is fine and
I also use Spurlock cauls. Ballistol oil is some kind of organic type oil
used in gun shops. I guess they use it for lubricating the gun mechanisms.
When I put it on the bushing leather it seems to condition the leather kind
of like putting glove oil on a new baseball mitt. I make the fit of the
leather fairly tight against the caul for the balance rail like with felt or
maybe a tiny bit tighter. After all, the reason you are using leather is
because  it is  high usage situation right? Don't make as tight on the front
rail. I also take the piece of leather  I'm about to use and kind of strop
the backside(the roughside) against the edge of my knife almost like you do
when you are trying to make a piece of ribbon curl up. I don't know why but
this seems to help. Like I said before I'm not the ultimate expert on the
subject. I sure like the results though.
Regards,
Doug Hershberger, RPT

----- Original Message -----
From: Jon Ralinovsky <ralinoj@muohio.edu>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Wednesday, May 26, 1999 5:19 AM
Subject: Re: leather key bushings


> Doug and Others,
> I'm using leather from Richard Meyer & Sons and cauls from Spurlock.  So
> the fit has to be much tighter than usual at the outset?  Maybe some
> full-grain cowhide would do ;)  What is Ballistol oil and what purpose
does
> it serve during the drying process?  Does it help keep the leather from
> shrinking (if that is indeed my problem)?  Does Titebond help with the
fit?
> Will these questions ever stop?
>
>
> >I've used the leather from Renner and not had that problem. What is the
> >source of your leather? Also, on the balance rail I fit them fairly tight
to
> >the cauls. Bill Spurlock says to fit them a little loose otherwise they
will
> >be too tight. I tried that at first by sanding the thickness the leather
but
> >then I had the same problem you did. Although this is not related to
> >fitting, one trick I learned was to put a drop or two of Ballistol oil on
> >each side of the bushing before you leave the final caul in  for the glue
to
> >dry.
> >   I know some people are going to get all worked up about the following;
> >I've used tightbond to glue the leather in and NEVER had a problem
steaming
> >them back out. When I was learning how to fit the bushings, I got one set
> >too loose and one too tight so I had to remove them. No problems with
> >tightbond. These are fairly new pianos in an extreme environment. There
are
> >a lot of more knowledgeable people in PTG and maybe on the list as far as
> >this topic is concerned but these are some of my experiences.
> >Doug Hershberger, RPT
>
> Jon Ralinovsky
>  Piano Tech, Miami U., Oxford, OH
>  ralinoj@muohio.edu
>
>
>