[pianotech] Cleaning bass strings

[Delwin D Fandrich]

I have not yet found a pot big enough to hold the piano. Even then, I don't think it I could fit the thing on my stove. Rest assured, though, if the piano is a Baldwin grand the pinblock will not delaminate.

ddf

Delwin D Fandrich
Piano Design & Fabrication
6939 Foothill Court SW, Olympia, Washington 98512 USA
Phone  360.515.0119 — Cell  360.388.6525
del at fandrichpiano.com — ddfandrich at gmail.com

-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of johnparham at piano88.com
Sent: Thursday, March 24, 2011 8:20 PM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Cleaning bass strings

I recently visited a music store in Hickory and spoke to some musicians who have been playing guitar for over 30 years, so they're borderline "seasoned veterans."  They have friends who insist that boiling guitar bass strings rejuvenate the wound strings.  They asked me if it works on bass strings in a piano.  I told them no, mainly because extended life on a guitar means another week or two of playing; extended life on a piano means another 10 years.  After 10 years, rust can consume a set of piano strings.

Since that conversation I have revisited that question several times in my mind. 

Has anyone ever tried boiling bass strings on a piano? If you boiled them you would have to 1)thoroughly dry them before putting them on the piano, and/or 2) lubricate them to make sure they did not rust.  

-John Parham

> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: [pianotech] Cleaning bass strings
> From: lee innocent <ljinno at googlemail.com>
> Date: Thu, March 24, 2011 10:21 am
> To: pianotech at ptg.org
> 
> 
> Hello again,
> I am also interested in the different methods used to clean up bass 
> strings whilst in the piano.  Working on a piano, customer doesnt want 
> it restrung, They sound reasonable, but I would be interested in 
> cleaning them up to see if there is a noticable improvement and also, for a visual improvemnt.
> Thanks
> Lee