[pianotech] balance hole break-loose noise

[Paul McCloud]

Hi, Alan:
    Years ago, I used something like "Chair Doctor", which was supposed to swell the wood, as it is used to tighten loose joints in a wooden chair.  The result was the same noise that you have.  I tried everything I could think of to get rid of the sound, and never did.  I vote for removing the wood and replacing with an insert.  (Ouch!).  
    I sympathize.  Good luck.
    Paul McCloud
    San Diego
    


----- Original Message ----- 
From: Alan Eder 
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Sent: 09/03/2011 7:15:26 AM 
Subject: [pianotech] balance hole break-loose noise


List, 


After I glue-sized the balance pin holes (nearly ALL of them), the client noticed a "scrunchie" sound, at the very beginning of the keystroke, and most noticeable when the action has not been played for a while (i. e., after one or two repeated strokes, the noise abates--but only to return after the key has spent some time at rest).  The glue-sizing solution was Elmer's white glue and water.  The keypins have been well-lubricated.  Since this problem has come to light, I have reamed out the holes of offending keys and steamed the holes to eliminate chucking (AKA "pulley keys," due to the hole being either elongated front-to-back from playing, or by over-easing).  My records indicate that some of the previous offenders have become repeat offenders, despite the reaming and steaming.  For reasons unrelated to this particular problem, we replaced the balance rail pins.  The "scrunchie" sound was there both before and after changing them out.  As I lose ever increasing amounts of time wrestling with this, I am contemplating doing two things that I have not done before, either 1) painting the insides of the balance rail holes in the keys with Protek (in the hope that this will keep the wood around the balance hole from sticking to the balance rail pin), or; 2) deliberately over-easing them (in the hope that not having contact all the way around between the pin and the hole could be a solution).


Has anyone else ever had this problem?  Thoughts about possible remedies?


Thanks,


Alan Eder
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