possible swollen key leads

[Farrell]

Yes, of course, bad stuff - Do Not Breathe. I gave her adequate warning 
about lead toxicity. She said she understood, had a chemistry lab 
background, and would be using a test-fitted half-face respirator. I said 
"great", but do so at your own risk!

Yup. Chisel. Good idea. That was also an option I suggested to her. She 
ended up reportedly using a Dremel tool......

Oxidized lead toxicity? I dunno. Safe assumption would be that it is, but I 
don't really know how that would affect things.

Terry Farrell

----- Original Message ----- 
> You are remembering that lead dust is mobile and carcinogenic, right?
>
> I was taught to slice off lead with a sharp chisel to minimize dust.
>
> What about when the lead is oxidized and swollen? Still just as toxic?
>
> JF
>
> On 6/30/07, Farrell <mfarrel2 at tampabay.rr.com> wrote:
>>
>>
>> For a permanent fix, yes, of course, replace all leads. But for so many
>> pianos - old uprights, consoles, etc. just grind off the excess flush 
>> with
>> the key side. Explain to the client that this is a bandaid fix - one that
>> often lasts for many years - but no guarantees.
>>
>> I just did one of these on an old upright last week - er, a, well, the 
>> piano
>> owner ground down the key leads after I told her what the problem was. 
>> She
>> did an very good job. Too bad that wasn't the biggest problem with her 
>> old
>> upright........
>>
>> Terry Farrell
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>>
>>
>> Regarding the Wurlitzer grand with horribly binding keys that I looked at
>> yesterday, I did not consider swollen key leads--until Terry Farrell
>> suggested the possibility.  Based on the research I've just done in the
>> archives, my first inclination on this piano (if swollen leads are indeed
>> the problem) is to trim/shave them with a sharp chisel and seal with thin 
>> CA
>> glue.  This will probably fit my client's pocketbook better than
>> removing/replacing the leads.  Should I, though, consider (and sell to 
>> the
>> client) the idea of removing/replacing?
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Richard Morgan
>