Key bushing Removal: Addendum

[Chris Gregg]

I just tape the keys together with masking tape in sections and steam the 
bushings out on the bench .  I usually put a piece of wood under the 
balance rail holes so that the steam does not damage my bench.  Does a 
great job of eliminating pulley keys.  I guess it is possible to size the 
b/r hole after steaming, but I don't usually bother.  Once they go back on 
the pin, things look after themselves.  What I have not tried yet are the 
Spurlock sizing bushings for getting even sized mortises 
http://www.spurlocktools.com/id19.htm  I still sometimes have trouble 
getting the felt out from under the buttons on some sets of keys.  Seems 
that the cloth is just clamped in there. Front rail bushings are usually a 
snap.

Chris


At 04:30 PM 12/10/2004, you wrote:
>In this case I was picking up each key and it did take a little
>longer--maybe 30 minutes.  It would be possible to clamp them together
>and run the steamer along the row as well, I suppose.  With the 90
>degree bend attachment you can get the steamer to point straight down.
>Because of the way the container holds water, you cannot tip the device
>very far.
>
>David Love
>davidlovepianos@comcast.net
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On
>Behalf Of David Ilvedson
>Sent: Friday, December 10, 2004 8:21 AM
>To: pianotech@ptg.org
>Subject: RE: Key bushing Removal: Addendum
>
>So David, are you picking each key up now?   It seems like you could use
>this device with the Spurlock clamp?
>
>David I.
>
>
>
>----- Original message ---------------------------------------->
>From: David Love <davidlovepianos@comcast.net>
>To: 'Pianotech' <pianotech@ptg.org>
>Received: Thu, 9 Dec 2004 22:51:21 -0800
>Subject: Key bushing Removal: Addendum
>
> >Thanks to Chris Gregg for recommending the Eureka Hot Shot Steamer for
> >key bushing removal.  It's an excellent tool for removing key bushings
> >plus I can clean the tile in my bathroom when I'm really bored.  With
> >the 90 degree nozzle attachment you can just set it on the bench and
> >rotate the keys one at a time doing both the balance and front rail at
>a
> >go.  The push button release allows you to turn the steam on and off as
> >needed and not turn your shop into a steam room.  I find that
>presoaking
> >the bushings is still helpful.
>
> >I did discover something in this process which helps size the balance
> >rail hole correctly.  The steam produced by this product comes out with
> >a fair amount of force and tends to oversize the balance rail hole
> >necessitating a fair amount of reaming (as do most steaming processes).
> >To remedy this I took a new balance rail pin, same size as the
>original,
> >and slid a cloth front rail punching about halfway down it and then
> >tacked the punching in place with a drop of CA glue.  When steaming out
> >the balance rail bushing, I held the key upside down over the steam jet
> >having first inserted the prepared balance rail pin into the balance
> >rail hole.  The attached punching keeps it from sliding down into the
> >key.  When injecting the steam into the mortise, the balance rail hole
> >is sized around the inserted pin.  Leave it in place to cool for a
> >moment as you turn the key around and steam out the front rail bushing.
> >Then remove it and go on to the next key in the same manner.  When I
> >slid the keys back onto the balance rail pins in the frame after
> >installing the new bushings, they fit perfectly with very little, if
> >any, reaming required.  With the iron and strip of cloth method of
> >steaming, this would not be possible.
>
> >BTW, I was able to find the Eureka Hot Shot Steamer for $49.00 at
> >www.allbrands.com/products/abp02149-0391.html?ppc=froogle
>
>
> >David Love
> >davidlovepianos@comcast.net
>
>
>
>
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>
>_______________________________________________
>pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives
>
>
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