Lighter fluid is naptha sid >A local tech has taken to using "lighter fluid" to loosen actions, and he >has said numerous times it works at least as well as Protek. Any others >tried this with or without success? >les bartlett > >-----Original Message----- >From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf >Of Randy Chastain >Sent: Thursday, July 19, 2007 9:22 AM >To: Pianotech List >Subject: Re: WD40 > >Have you ever tried brake cleaner in extreme cases? > >Randy C > > >On 7/19/07 6:43 AM, "David Boyce" <David at piano.plus.com> wrote: > >> On Monday I tuned the old birdcage upright of a work colleague. This >> is the sole piano on which I have ever used WD40 on the action. >> >> I first tuned it about eight years ago. When I came to it, the action >> was extremely sluggish, with notes just not repeating, and keys staying >down. >> When I pulled the action out to look at the centres, I found that at >> some time in the past, the centres had all had been oiled. >> Moving a hammer flange with my finger, it moved with an evil slow >> oleaginous resistance. I could see sludge around the bushings. >> >> What to do? The piano was cetainly not worth repinning and rebushing. >> I suggested to my colleague and her husband that, as the piano was >> virtually unplayable as it was, I could try WD40 to see if it would >> re-liquify the old oil that had dried to varnish consistency, and at >> least get the action moving, presuming that the wood of the flanges had >not swollen. >> >> They agreed to try this. It was spectacularly sucessful. I had to do >> a large pitch raise, so went back in a few days to fine tune, and >> advised them to let the kids and their friends play as much as >> possible. The action completely freed up! And, free it has remained >> in the years since, with no fiurther applications needed. >> >> So, while I would never ever in normal circumstances put WD40 near an >> action, in this case it did just what was needed. >> >> David. >> >> > > >No virus found in this incoming message. >Checked by AVG Free Edition. >Version: 7.5.476 / Virus Database: 269.10.9/907 - Release Date: 07/18/2007 >3:30 PM > -- Sid Blum sid at sover.net
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