lacquer solutions and airline travel

[David Ilvedson]

So what is the tour consisting of?  One piano moving to the concert sites?  Various pianos at various sites?  I'd contact local techs for anything needed.
I would imagine anything a tech needed could be had at the local Home Depot...Lacquer thinner, lacquer, acetone...etc.  just bring some keytops...
I wouldn't even consider taking it on the plane...

David I.



----- Original message ---------------------------------------->
From: Bill Ballard <yardbird@pop.vermontel.net>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Received: Wed, 28 Aug 2002 08:36:00 -0400
Subject: Re: lacquer solutions and airline travel

>At 8:08 PM -0700 8/27/02, David Ilvedson wrote:
>>Yeah, what a great idea...and if you get stopped I'd like to hear
>>your excuse to the Feds...

>I don't know about you, but at that moment the first thing out of my
>mouth wouldn't be a lie. The truth is not an excuse. The whole truth
>is the whole truth.

>With all due respect, David, this is a calculated risk, one in the
>"enormous consequences at negligible risk" category. On the one hand
>you have the clear need as a professional for this material.
>(Certainly you can't anticipate the number of pianos you'll arrive on
>this 6 week tour, which will need it. As a result, you can't
>anticipate the total number of fluid ounces you'll use during the six
>weeks. But let's assume that 8 oz. will get you through.) That
>professional need would include having the stuff ready to use, as
>soon as you first  hit the new piano.

>You weigh that against the chance of discovery, either because some
>sort of sniffer (canine or electronic) smells ketone vapors coming
>from your suitcase or because you fell on the wrong side of
>somebody's terrorist profile. Which if you go about your business as
>if it's nobody else's business.

>As I said, it's a situation of "enormous consequences at negligible
>risk". I live thirty miles north of an aging nuke, and should the
>event of negligible risk happen, I'd be just as bad off as the folks
>living right across the street from it (whose property taxes have
>been subsidized by it for 30 years). And not much better off than
>those living 100 miles away. But I face a greater chance of death
>when I climb into my automobile each morning. I'm sure you have this
>involvement with "enormous consequences at negligible risk" in your
>life.

>The facts of the matter should be no surprise to you or anyone. The
>solvents are flammable, and have been illegal on airplanes for years.
>And the chances of being caught have risen sharply since 9/11. So if
>you're serious in your need to have this material on hand at each of
>the many stops on your tour, and if the risk of getting caught is
>unacceptable, you don't even ask the question.

>Your alternatives are 1.) traveling with straight lacquer only (less
>flammable and less aromatic), and thinner it with from a pint of
>acetone bought and left at each stop, 2.) buying at each stop the
>largest quantity of clear nail polish and nail polish remover (most
>likely, 3 or 4 oz. in each material), or simply throwing a can of
>nitro-based hairspray into your suitcase. (Ben McKlveen has a great
>story on that one.)

>Are you doing the tour under contract with somebody's management?
>Write them a letter, explaining that this material is a necessary
>part of the service which they have contracted you for. (The letter
>won't go into how you intend to have them on hand for each stop, but
>you can make it clear verbally which alternative is the best,
>strictly from a professional standpoint of getting the job done.)
>Management will probably run it by legal, who will say concur that it
>is a legitimate part of your business.

>Again, I assumed that because you asked the question, you were
>considering the primary option. As for the summer of '67, I had a big
>smile on my face which lasted for 8-10 weeks. <g>

>Respectfully,

>Bill Ballard RPT
>NH Chapter, P.T.G.

>"Blessed are the cynical,
>		for they hath made backups."
>     ...........anon
>+++++++++++++++++++++