[pianotech] seized let off buttons

John Delacour JD at Pianomaker.co.uk
Sun Nov 16 12:21:19 PST 2008


At 11:06 -0800 16/11/08, Rob & Helen Goodale wrote:

>Clarify:  "Dollies"?  Do you mean key capstans?

Dollies or soldier-tops is fine.  Capstans are on a grand.

>Whatever the case try a little heat from the tip of a soldering gun, 
>that will often free parts that have seized in wood.  If not try 
>heating, cooling, and heating again.

The soldering iron sounds rather slow.  I use the flame from a gas 
lighter or a spirit lamp to work on about 10 set-off screws at a 
time.  You need to get them quite hot and then ease them in and out a 
very small amount clockwise and anti-clockwise until they are free. 
The soldiers will need more heat and it might be a good idea to put 
two drops of diesel oil where the wire enters the top and leave them 
overnight before using the flame.

JD


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