Protecting plain wire from rust

[Geoff Sykes]

Excellent tips. Thanks. 

-- Geoff Sykes
-- Assoc. Los Angeles


-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Andrew and Rebeca Anderson
Sent: Sunday, March 26, 2006 5:49 PM
To: Pianotech List
Subject: RE: Protecting plain wire from rust


Geoff,
If this is a small to mid-sized grand you want about 100 watts 
underneath.  That close to the coast you can disable the humidifier 
side of the system.  If she doesn't like the light indicator, merely 
relocate it to the belly rail/some-other-convenient-location.
To stop rust from continuing she needs a string-cover.  End of 
story.  The DC shouldn't contribute to rust (unless she's using a 
cheap Wal Mart industrial strength additive.)  Cooking or cleaning 
habits (nearby) may have more to do with rust.  That duct vent should 
have a deflector over it.  The DC can't protect the strings from rust 
from under the sound-board unless there is a string-cover above to 
contain the environment.  Additionally the string cover will extend 
the environment into the action cavity and make cleaning easy.  Visit 
http://www.edwardsstringcovers.com/  The site is a little slower now 
with the flash presentation but it covers the reasons why a cover 
isn't optional in your situation quite well.

Good luck,
Andrew Anderson

At 06:30 PM 3/26/2006, you wrote:
>No, it's a grand. I haven't actually tested the RH. I replaced the DC 
>at her request. I'm not so sure this was a good idea in that after 
>replacement to the new "smart" DC the rusting appeared to accelerate. I 
>checked the DC and it is installed correctly and is working as I 
>believe it should. However, I think there are some environment things 
>working against it. The piano sits under a forced air heater duct, and 
>about 6' away from a sliding glass door into the back yard. 
>Additionally, she only lives a couple of miles from the beach and the 
>humidity in the area is generally higher than the rest of LA. I 
>unplugged the humidifier part of the DC and that appears to have helped 
>the rusting. I'm thinking that an overly dry room right next to a the 
>outside humidity was causing the humidifier to work harder than 
>desirable for the environment. Next visit I may just unplug the whole 
>thing from the wall. I don't think the de-humidifier is necessary in 
>that room, and besides, she complains about the blinking lights from 
>the disconnected, (and now dry), humidifier.
>
>-- Geoff Sykes
>-- Assoc. Los Angeles
>
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On 
>Behalf Of Farrell
>Sent: Sunday, March 26, 2006 2:57 PM
>To: Pianotech List
>Subject: Re: Protecting plain wire from rust
>
>
>IMHO, the strings in a piano equipped with a properly operating DC 
>system will not develope rust. Have you monitored the RH of the piano 
>interior (is this an upright)?
>
>Terry Farrell
>
>----- Original Message -----
> > I have a customer with a 1919 Hazelton Bros. piano that I service 
> > regularly that has rusty strings. The piano has had a DC in it for 
> > years. I recently replaced it as the tank for the old one literally 
> > fell out of the piano. Nevertheless, and in spite of the fact that 
> > the DC is functionally correctly
> > and is properly maintained, the strings continue to show increasing
signs
> > of
> > rust. Do you think that employing your Vaseline treatment to these
strings
> > at this late stage might be beneficial? If yes, how would you go about
> > applying this treatment to strings already in the piano?
> >
> > -- Geoff Sykes
> > -- Assoc. Los Angeles