Bob, Your reasoning seems sound to me. Logic would seem to dictate that a more exposed string would receive more of the negative effects of surrounding humidity, etc. It would, necessarily, follow that a more protected environment (string cover) would retard the rapid change and therefore protect better. My observations follow your logic to a tee. Greg Newell Greg's Piano Forté www.gregspianoforte.com 216-226-3791 (office) 216-470-8634 (mobile) -----Original Message----- From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Bob Hull Sent: Monday, February 18, 2008 4:15 PM To: Pianotech List Subject: Rust damage after storm If I can take a detour off of the rusted strings and D.C. discussion for a minute, I would like to hear your thoughts about the possibility of horizontal strings (grand) rusting faster than a vertical. For two reasons: No. 1 The horizontal surface, top side, will perhaps allow the moisture to rest on it, and No. 2 Grand pianos are generally not closed up as tightly, therefore a more rapid change can be made in moisture content. (This could be argued as a benefit in terms of drying faster) I am questioning this as I have tested pianos in a college where the pianos are in the same environment over a period of several years and the grand piano strings are more oxidized or rusted, than the same age vertical pianos. This is evidenced by wiping a clean white cloth over the strings and finding orange lines on the cloth. I am doing some evaluation on pianos in a building after a tornado hit it and while the building is still standing, the roof was partially blown off and the sprinkler system went off. Little damage was done by large amounts of direct water on the pianos, but a very high humidity prevailed for days in the bldg. before they could be moved out. Is it possible that grand strings are more susceptible to rust than verticals? Bob Hull ____________________________________________________________________________ ________ Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page. http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs
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