First the disclaimer, I posted the Ballistol TT&T. This is the best stuff I have ever used for almost anything that is sticky or squeaks. It beats any silicone based lube and it really lasts. The spray can is what I carry on the road. I buy them by the dozen. It comes with a thin straw to reach difficult places. The bulk can comes in pints or gallons. I recently bought a gallon. That gives you some idea how good I think it is. I put the bulk Ballistol in an olive oil sprayer that pumps up by hand with an up and down action of the top. You can get one at most cooking accessory stores. The bulk liquid is a bit more viscous than the spray can. You can dilute it with your favorite solvent if you like, but you don't have to and I don't. I use the olive oil sprayer in the shop for action work. With an old action on the bench, I will just make a continuous spray over all the centers. That takes about a minute and you solve all kinds of issues. It is the best thing I have found for verdigris. It works on all but the most stubborn old S&S model Vs. In the home, I use it to free up any stuck or slow center or key bushing. One shot and you are done. It saves so much time. Rarely do problems come back. Don't worry about getting it on felt or leather. It is safe for both. For knuckles, I mix some MolyKote (molybdenum dioxide) powder with the bulk form and use it to softens the leather and the Molykote is more slippery than graphite. Don't add solvent here or it will harden the leather. DAMHIK. I put this on with a metal handled plumbers brush sold for solder flux. If I run across old hard dampers that don't respond to an emery board filing, toothbrushing or needling, and I know the owner won't have them replaced, I give them a shot of Ballistol. It softens the felt and quiets them immediately. One caution, on bass strings, it will dissolve the corrosion on the copper and will transfer the green residue to the felt. Probably no problem on an old upright but not so good on a nice new grand. Also, if overdone, it can get into the copper winding and could dampen the tone slightly. So go easy around bass strings. On the good side, if you have a buzzing string that you can't quiet short of replacing it, Give a small shot of Ballistol on the ends of the winding and it will likely quit buzzing. It takes care of buzzing in old spinet bass strings, etc. with no cost, and you are a hero. The effect lasts too. Use it on trap work too for squeaks,if for no other reason but to find the squeak. A shot at each moving part will quickly find the culprit. In most cases, it will cure it too. I also use it on my van for squeaky door hinges, stiff door lock tumblers or frozen ones,and those little bearing/wheels on sliding van doors that make the door hard to close. Ballistol does not seem to collect dirt either, so these bearings stay cleaner longer than with WD-40 or silicone. I don't even buy WD-40 anymore. I haven't bought any silicone based sprays in ages. Concerning odor, it does not have a strong smelling solvent in the spray can and has no solvent in the bulk can, so you are not going to gas someones living room by using a lot of spray. It does leave an odor. Initially, it is a bit like a wet dog smell but quickly changes to a cedar oil-like smell that is not unpleasant. Owners will start relating that smell to a smooth working action. LOL. Ballistol is a light oil and will leave some oil in wood parts. If it is a brand new white wood action in a showroom, use with care or be aware that there will be a slight darkening of wood. No problem in old pianos. It disappears in darker wood. Ballistol is a household product in Germany. It has many other uses too. An interesting one: it is antibacterial and will cure foot rot in horses. It might even work on athlete's foot. Not sure about that. But it was used to good effect in WWI and WWII on wounds as well as on guns. Once you try Ballistol, you will likely reach for it first and might quit carrying any other lubes. Doug Gregg Classic Piano Doc Southold, NY
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