my own Soundboard

[John Delacour]

At 9:10 PM -0600 1/13/02, Ron Nossaman wrote:

>TB II contains a nasty yellow dye that stains everything it touches, 
>including my hands. It doesn't wash out of anything, and I tend to 
>be somewhat less than timid when I'm spreading glue. That's it. 
>Personal preference.

That could well be bichromate of potash.  This can also be added to 
animal glue to render it moisture-resistant and is a very old remedy. 
I can't be sure I've ever seen a piano using this additive in the 
glue, but quite possibly some tropicalized export pianos used it in 
the old days for export to very hoy and humid climates.

The only use I make of bichromate of potash is for darkening and 
reddening certain types of mahogany.  Not all types will respond, and 
there are a few other woods that will respond in different ways. 
Given the right wood, there is nothing more effective as a stain, 
since it bites right into the wood and stains it chemically to a good 
depth.  Great care is needed in getting the strength of the solution 
right, since you can't undo things by washing off.

The color of the solution is a deep yellow tending to orange and will 
stain your hands for days.

JD