Plastic Flanges, Repair or Replace?

[Michael Magness]

I have to assume since you say the piano is only 10 years old that it is a
Kawai? What you are working with ISN'T plastic, plastics are petroleum based
and were tried in pianos years ago and were an abysmal failure!

Kawai uses Styran, a rubber based man made material that has been a
wonderfull success for them. The glue to rebush would be the PVC glue, the
same glue you use to glue keytops to wood. I have not experienced loose pins
just the occasional tight one. I don't understand not reaming for a larger
pin unless the felt was worn through to the styran?

My understanding is the flanges are cheaper to produce yet have closer
tolerances and are impervious to humidity. My point being, perhaps keeping a
small supply of them on hand and tossing them, rather than rebushing them
might be more economical. At some point you need to look at cost vs. time
spent doing the repair of a readily available, fairly economical item.

One other point, do not under any circumstances use the alcohol & water
treatment on the styran flanges if you feel they are too tight. The alcohol
makes the styran brittle and will ruin it. If you have a few just re-pin if
you have many use Naptha& water in a 50/50 mix.



>  Michael Magness
> Magness Piano Service
> 608-786-4404
> www.IFixPianos.com
> email mike at ifixpianos.com
>
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