Protecting plain wire from rust

[David Patterson]

After stringing, pianos can be brushed thoroughly on all exposed non-copper
wire areas with a solution of 100:1 VMP naptha to machine oil. This will
protect the wire while safeguarding the pinblock. Note the tiny amount of
"protective" material compared to solvent vehicle. 100:1. Only very small
amounts should be used, and larger amounts of "goo" do not produce larger
amounts of protection. The amount of lanolin [lubricant] appropriate for
balance pins? The amount you get by brushing your  fingers through your hair
and transferring it to a few pins. More lubricant will just make things
worse over time. It's not needed.

Don has many good points about the molecular level of these rusted sections.
These pockmarks are microscopic. Dust-attracting semi-liquids can add a
whole bunch of variables over the years, and end up affecting the sound
themselves.

Dampp-Chaser has always approved of a properly-installed string cover. While
bragging about DC rust-protection in grands was never high on my list, there
has been countless well-documented cases where the systems really helped,
even on their own. Even with that board in the way.


David Patterson, RPT
Patterson and Company
Exclusively Dampp-Chaser Piano Life Saver Specialists for 16 Years

-----Original Message-----
From: Mark Schecter [mailto:schecter at pacbell.net]
Sent: March 25, 2006 12:16 AM
To: Pianotech
Subject: Protecting plain wire from rust


Hi, all. Here's something I've been wondering about.

In pianos with rusty strings, I use Protek on the strings where they
pass under the capo, and where they pass through the agraffes, as well
as on the counterbearing felt, to help ease rendering. It works, and
seems to keep on working for at least a few months, maybe longer. I have
often wondered if there is any substance (such as, oh, maybe, Protek?)
that people use on clean, shiny strings to prevent rust or tarnish ever
developing? I could imagine taking whole rolls of wire and dipping it in
a bath of XYZ-stuff before stringing, or sponging it on in the piano.

We are instructed to coat practically every other metal surface in every
device in our lives (think car) with something or other, so why not
piano strings? I guess we could expand the question to include
copper-wound bass strings, too, if anyone has any thoughts about those.
I'm interested to hear people's ideas.

-Mark Schecter