Bridge Cap Finish, was: Short Treble (sustain?)

[Erwinspiano@aol.com]

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In a message dated 11/2/2003 6:09:56 AM Pacific Standard Time, 
pianobuilders@olynet.com writes:
Personally I see no reason to put any kind of finish on the bridge cap at 
all. The graphite mixture was intended to make the bridge surface lubricous and 
allow the string to render over it easily. Of course this theory ignored the 
bridge pins and the string offset. If the idea is to hermetically seal the 
bridge against water vapor it's going to take about 1 or 2 mm of epoxy. Nothing 
else will do. So, what's the point? Other than, perhaps, for looks. But no clear 
finish known to man (or woman, and, believe me they use some finished men have 
never heard of!) is going to stand up to the spot forces imposed by a taught 
string passing over it. So, use a nice hard wood and leave it alone. Or, if 
you must, spray on some kind of dry Teflon product and rub it down with some 
nicely.

Del
      I see the points you made but here's the ones you didn't. 
     If for nothing else it's way easier to clean off the dust! A coating of 
(shellac or whatever) does slow absoption of R.H. &also slows the hygroscopic 
& potential staining/poluting effects of various kinds of fluids spilled in 
the piano ,enough so, that  hopefully they can be cleaned up before they can 
have long term effect.
  Bob Hofs article on bridge work sometime ago mentioned that considering the 
porousness of maple, the wicking in effect of shellac would seem, to my mind 
case harden the wood a bit as he suggests. I personally use shellac in the 
notches as well with lacquer or varnish coats over that. Sure it's more than 
appearance but that's important too. Yes, I see that it won't completely seal it 
but think it still prudent to apply something. After all the inside of a grand 
piano has a certain aesthetic beauty which our customers comment on.
  Although graphite serves no functional purpose it does allow for visual 
reference of lines while laying out & cutting notches which is perhaps while it's 
always been done.
   Are you applying nothing to the caps you install?
    Regards-Dale

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