Upright Wippen Rebuilding Questions

[Kerry Cooper]

Terry,

I use animal glue (unprepared hide glue) to glue all felt and leather. As
Gordon has said, hide glue is effected by humidity, it is advantagiuos to
use a glue that is more stable for wood joints. However I am a big believer
in using animal glue because when used at the right consistency it does not
soak into felt, dry quickly, lasts the life of the felt
and can be easly removed when next time the piano has to be
rebuilt/repaired.

As for mutton fat, the true mutton fat does not have any salt, or acids that
can harm metals. True mutton fat is obtained by rendering down the fat from
around the kidneys of a sheep, the best fat comes from prize winning rams.
Verdigris on centrepins does not come from mutton fat, it is a natural
effect of brass that has been polished by the felt bushing and then let sit
in a humid climate. Mutton fat is or should never be used on centrepins. If
copious amounts of mutton fat is applied to metal parts, then you will get
side affects. The more use of unnatural man made products in every day life
can cause problems in the future.

Kerry

----- Original Message -----
From: "Farrell" <mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com>
To: "Pianotech" <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Thursday, March 20, 2003 12:25 AM
Subject: Re: Upright Wippen Rebuilding Questions


> Thanks for the input Kerry. A couple comments.
>
> Regarding hide or Titebond. I know this has been gone over a billion
times, but on this action several jack flanges had been repaired with yellow
wood glue. The original hide glue came off effortlessly with a little water
action - wippens cleaned up perfectly. The wippens that had yellow glue
applied (of course I don't know exactly what it was) did soften, but
required a fair bit of scraping to thoroughly clean it. I just delight in
how easy hide glue is removed.
>
> Mutton fat! Yikes! Where on earth would I find that? And is that something
that will not affect the action cloth on the damper lever, and is that
something that can be expected to last for many decades?
>
> Terry Farrell
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Kerry Cooper" <brispiano@optushome.com.au>
> To: "Pianotech" <pianotech@ptg.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, March 19, 2003 8:46 AM
> Subject: Re: Upright Wippen Rebuilding Questions
>
>
> >
> >
> >
> > >
> > > I will be installing new jacks and attached flanges. Is it best to
simply
> > apply hide glue, stick together and let dry? Or are their any
significant
> > secrets to the process?
> >
> > You can use hide glue or Tite-bond.
> >
> > > I will be replacing heel/capstan action cloth. Is hide glue applied
over
> > the entire cloth/wood surface? Or is it just applied at the forward and
back
> > ends of the action cloth so that there is no glue between the cloth and
> > wooden wippen heel?
> >
> > Glue is applied only to forward and back ends only. This stops any
future
> > noise that might arise due to glue soaking into the Box/action cloth.
> >
> > > The spoons are tarnished a bit. I would rather not replace if I can
make
> > like new easily. I can simply give them a second or two on the buffing
wheel
> > and they will be shiny as ever - but what about the surface metal left -
> > will it corrode faster than a new spoon? Can I coat the buffed spoon
with
> > Emrlon (or something like that - thought I had seen it in Schaff catalog
for
> > coating capstans - couldn't find it again) or something else?
> >
> > Buff spoons, and light coat of mutton fat. Just a smear to protect from
air.
> >
> > Kerry
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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