I'm sure your method gets you good results. I haven't ever tried it so I guess I shouldn't be so quick to be down on it. I have a set of keybushing to replace on one of my own pianos. Maybe I'll try half with hot, and half with cold so I can compare. I'll let you know what I think! Since you *have *used both, what made you switch, and what do you do differently as far as technique? (i.e. how do you spread it on the felt, how long till totally dry, etc). On Sat, Jul 11, 2009 at 9:30 PM, David Love <davidlovepianos at comcast.net>wrote: > Don’t use too much. But whatever you’re comfortable with. I’ve not had > a problem since switching from hot to cold. > > > > David Love > > www.davidlovepianos.com > > > > *From:* pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] *On > Behalf Of *Ryan Sowers > *Sent:* Saturday, July 11, 2009 9:11 PM > > *To:* pianotech at ptg.org > *Subject:* Re: [pianotech] Balance rail bushings > > > > Cold glue is not so good for key bushings IMHO. It stays liquid too long > and will definitely soak into the felt more making them harder than they > need to be. At least it will be easy to remove in the future, but what other > merits does it have? > > >From Bill Spurlocks website: > > *Controllable penetration:* Hot hide glue gels quickly, so it won't > penetrate too far into porous materials like felt and harden it excessively. > Actually, hot hide glue has a two stage curing process. First, it turns from > a liquid to a gelatin as soon as it cools slightly. Then over a longer > period of time, it turns hard and rigid as the water content leaves the > glue. > > Hot hide glue is the appropriate stuff. It takes some getting used to but > is well worth the effort. > > On Sat, Jul 11, 2009 at 7:55 PM, Matthew Todd <toddpianoworks at att.net> > wrote: > > You guys are being a great help, thank you. > > > > *TODD PIANO WORKS* > Matthew Todd, Piano Technician > (979) 248-9578 > > http://www.toddpianoworks.com > > > > --- On *Sun, 7/12/09, David Love <davidlovepianos at comcast.net>* wrote: > > > From: David Love <davidlovepianos at comcast.net> > > > Subject: Re: [pianotech] Balance rail bushings > > To: pianotech at ptg.org > Date: Sunday, July 12, 2009, 1:22 AM > > > > Hot or cold hide glue work fine. Spurlock’s cauls are the best. Over time > you should plan on getting the entire set of sizes. You don’t need steam to > get the old ones out. Just soak them with cold water mixed with a bit of > wall paper remover or anything else that will help break the surface tension > to get the water into the old cloth. Overnight is unnecessary. Just let it > stand for awhile (go do something else) and the pull them out. Use a > dropper (6 oz with a medium needle works well) and lay the end of a pipe > cleaner over the center of the mortise to help disperse the liquid to the > bushings without it running down into the mortise. > > > > As far as “ears” go, remember that the old bushings had “ears” but they > were wrapped underneath the key buttons. Since you can’t duplicate that > fold underneath, do it on top. I think it increases the life expectancy. > > > > David Love > > www.davidlovepianos.com > > > > *From:* pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] *On > Behalf Of *Ryan Sowers > *Sent:* Saturday, July 11, 2009 5:38 PM > *To:* pianotech at ptg.org > *Subject:* Re: [pianotech] Balance rail bushings > > > > Matthew, > > One thing I discovered when I started replacing keybushings back in the > 90's, was that it was easy to have them come out too loose. I like a firm > balance rail bushing with only a few thousands of play. If you use standard > 146 cauls and leave them in to dry, your balance rail bushings will be too > loose. > > Nobody ever told me this when I was starting out! > > Bill Spurlock sells a set of balance rail cauls that are not oversized like > the standard ones. These will leave the bushings a little tighter. Even so, > I pull the cauls out after about 15 minutes to allow the bushings to expand > slightly. This seems to get them very close to where I like them. > > Also I prefer the balance rail bushings to have ears. Others prefer to have > them cut flush with the top of the key, but I see no advantage to this. By > stretching the felt over the top of the key, I believe it puts a little > tension in the felt which I feel is beneficial. Additionally, the ears sit > up about a millimeter or so above the surface of the keybutton - this gives > slightly more support - again, another advantage from my viewpoint. > > If anyone knows of a functional advantage of having the cloth cut flush, > I'd like to know what it is. > > Of course, *hot hide glue is the correct glue to use.* It gels on the > surface of the felt, leaving it more resilient, and it is easier to replace > the bushings in the future. > > For getting old bushings out, I find it is best to soak them first before > using the steam. Formula 409 seems to work the best! I mix it with 50 > percent water. I use small wedges cut from hammer scraps that are small > enough to fit into the mortises. These get soaked in the solution and > inserted into the keys. > > If you leave them overnight they may dry out, so it is best to cover them > with plastic wrap. In the morning you will find that they will usually > almost fall out with no steam needed. Sometimes a little steam will still > facilitate removal. > > On Sat, Jul 11, 2009 at 3:00 PM, Matthew Todd <toddpianoworks at att.net<http://us.mc838.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=toddpianoworks@att.net>> > wrote: > > I will be doing a balance rail bushing job soon, and just wanted to see how > replacing the balance rail differs from replacing the front rail, i.e., the > key buttons. I am assuming I can take off the old ones using steam. And > then, what would be the best cauls to purchase. > > > > Thank you for the advice, > > *TODD PIANO WORKS* > Matthew Todd, Piano Technician > (979) 248-9578 > > http://www.toddpianoworks.com > > > > > -- > Ryan Sowers, RPT > Puget Sound Chapter > Olympia, WA > www.pianova.net > > > > > -- > Ryan Sowers, RPT > Puget Sound Chapter > Olympia, WA > www.pianova.net > -- Ryan Sowers, RPT Puget Sound Chapter Olympia, WA www.pianova.net -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... 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