making key bushing cauls

[Greg Newell]

Hmmmmmm, I was describing the method used long before Spurlock cauls. This 
is the method I used with brass cauls before I purchased the Bushmaster.

Greg Newell



At 04:25 PM 11/15/2004, you wrote:
>Hmmmm, I don't know exactly what process you describe below, but with the
>Spurlock system, all you do is lay the cloth across the mortice (no holding
>of both ends of anything), insert caul and cut cloth with razor (cloth
>doesn't get dragged anywhere) - move on to next key.....
>
>Terry Farrell
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Greg Newell" <gnewell@ameritech.net>
>To: "Pianotech" <pianotech@ptg.org>
>Sent: Monday, November 15, 2004 4:19 PM
>Subject: RE: making key bushing cauls
>
>
> >
> > Ron,
> >          I use the Bushmaster system and find it to be, as you've said, an
> > incredible waste of bushing cloth (much more that 3 times). I suspect that
> > the Spurlock caul users are taught to use the same method I did before the
> > Bushmaster. I used to lay the cloth over the mortise and when it touched
> > the top of the opposite side of the mortise it was the correct length. The
> > problem I always had with that was holding both ends of cloth immobile
> > while pushing in the cloth which invariably tried to drag the cloth with
>it
> > into the hole. I like the speed of the Bushmaster but really hate the
>waste.
> >
> > Greg Newell
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > At 12:49 PM 11/15/2004, you wrote:
> >
> > >>I'd like to see a side-by-side trial of the "Bushmaster" method and the
> > >>Spurlock system. I use the Spurlock system and love it, but I have never
> > >>tried the other. Anyone used both? Opinions? I recall can't imagine
>anything
> > >>slicker than the Spurlock system.
> > >>
> > >>Terry Farrell
> > >>
> > >>I've used both and have come up with a hybrid system: I use the Spurlock
> > >>system with hot hide glue, but with brass cauls.  The thickest brass
>caul is
> > >>used to hold the first bushing in place, the required size is used for
>the
> > >>other side.  Then I place a clothes iron (set on cotton) on top of the
>final
> > >>cauls.  This reactivates the hide glue, sizes the bushing hole in the
>key
> > >>and sets the cloth bushing to the caul.  Let stand over night. The key
>hole
> > >>sizing step is eliminated, as well as any easing.  Steaming the old
>bushings
> > >>out will also size the balance rail.
> > >>
> > >>Paul C
> > >
> > >In the late 70's, I made a tool that works somewhat like the Bushmaster,
> > >copied from an existing tool someone had that originally came from who
> > >knows where. Both of these tools lacked a means of indexing the depth of
> > >the cloth, so my copy didn't work too well. For years, I used hide glue,
> > >cauls, and two pieces of appropriate thickness cloth, inserted into the
> > >mortise, caul inserted, and trimmed flush with the caul with a knife.
>This
> > >worked, ok, with near zero waste of bushing cloth, but was hard to gage
> > >the depth of the bushing in the mortise. Lately, I've used my old
>homemade
> > >tool, re-modified with ears to index the cloth to proper depth (like the
> > >Bushmaster). It's quick and wastes three times as much bushing cloth as
>is
> > >glued in the keys. Unnecessary waste offends me, but the uniformity of
>the
> > >job is just what I was after, so that's where I currently am.
> > >
> > >I suppose if I did key bushings on a weekly basis I might be doing it
> > >differently, since it always seems to take me half a set to get
> > >comfortable with it and in rhythm, this is easy and mindless enough a
> > >system for me to run it. When I get tired of looking at my funky little
> > >tool, or it finally falls apart and dies, I'll probably buy a Bushmaster.
> > >
> > >So how do you Spurlock method bushers index cloth depth, and are you
>happy
> > >with the result?
> > >
> > >Ron N
> > >
> > >_______________________________________________
> > >pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives
> >
> > Greg Newell
> > Greg's piano Forté
> > mailto:gnewell@ameritech.net
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives
> >
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives

Greg Newell
Greg's piano Forté
mailto:gnewell@ameritech.net