[pianotech] Piano cleaning after a fire

[Thomas Cole]

David Swartz, commenting on ozone chambers, said that there is no harm done if the piano is completely dry. So I guess that relates to putting it in a sealed-off room heated to 80 degrees. Just a different description about what actually happens.

Tom Cole



Barbara Nobbe wrote:
> The piano has to be contained in a sealed-off room or tent-like structure
> that can be heated up to 80 degrees.  The heat expands the wood cells to
> allow as much of the oxygen to escape.  Then, the ozone machine draws all
> the oxygen out in order to get the smoke and fire smell out.  The machine
> should ideally run for 2 days straight.  If the piano was not heated to the
> high temperature, then the cells would not be at full expansion and thus,
> the smell could return during the more humid months.
>
> I seriously considered the ups and downs of this procedure.  I did not want
> to return a rebuilt and refinished piano to the customer, only to have it
> smell bad in the home.  Knowing that I was going to replace the pinblock and
> refinish the cabinet, I contemplated that the worse of the damage done with
> the ozone machine was going to be fixed anyway.  But with the 1 crack in the
> soundboard already, and knowing that more would likely appear with the heat,
> I opted out.  Plus, I figured that after replacing all the hammers and felts
> in the action and sealing the cabinet with the new refinishing work, the
> smell would not likely be as big of a concern after all.
>
> Looking back, I'm glad to have not done the ozone.  It really worried me
> about heating the piano to 80 degrees.  I already have enough issues to have
> to fix without adding more fuel to the fire, so to speak. :-)
>
> Barbara Nobbe, RPT
> Pitch Perfect
> Lexington, KY
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
> Of Jack Houweling
> Sent: Saturday, April 03, 2010 1:40 PM
> To: pianotech at ptg.org
> Subject: Re: [pianotech] Piano cleaning after a fire
>
> Does anyone know how ozone damages pianos?
>
>
> Jack Houweling
>
>
>
>
>   
>> Contact David Swartz, RPT. He is a master at smoke and protein fire 
>> damaged
>> piano. I just had a small seminar with him last year. He did say not to 
>> use
>> ozone because it damages pianos. He also said 9D9 and Double O is good for
>> protein. You might give him a call. he has handout for all of this.
>> Randy Chastain
>>     
>
>
>