[pianotech] open letter to CA users..???

John Ross jrpiano at eastlink.ca
Mon Feb 13 12:49:21 MST 2012


If you stretch it when you cut the tip, it shrinks the size of the hole at the cut.
Handy to know if you want better control.
John Ross
Windsor, Nova Scotia
On 13-02-2012, at 3:39 PM, Dean May wrote:

> Hi Nick
>  
> Yes, I use the thin viscosity for tuning pins. I like to keep a small bottle of the thick as it is useful for some applications.
>  
> I don’t have issues with the odor. While there is some with the glue I use, it hasn’t been overpowering for me, just very mildly annoying, and that only sometimes. I think it is worse with some brands than others. I get mine locally at a hobby shop. He sells a brisk volume and always seems to have fresh glue. I used to buy it at www.kwickkleen.com.
>  
> The bulb syringes are 50 cents each. I just buy a dozen or so every time I get glue. If you are careful to purge the tips of glue, they can last for several uses. Sometimes you can cut off the very end to continue using them. But they are only 50 cents. I don’t sweat it too much.
>  
> Dean
> 
> Dean W May                        (812) 235-5272 voice and text
> 
> PianoRebuilders.com           (888) DEAN-MAY        
> 
> Terre Haute IN 47802           Give us a LIKE on Facebook! Go to PianoRebuilders.com
> 
> From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Nicholas Gravagne
> Sent: Monday, February 13, 2012 10:49 AM
> To: pianotech at ptg.org
> Subject: Re: [pianotech] open letter to CA users..???
>  
> Dean,
> 
> Thanks for the details on the CA pins thing. I assume you use thin viscosity glue. How do  you avoid the sometimes overpowering vapor action and even stinging sensations to the eyes? 
> 
> I haven't used the bulb applicators; apparently they don't clog up with use? Or do you need to have several on hand due to clogging?
> 
> Thanks for any additional info.
> 
> NG
> 
> On Mon, Feb 13, 2012 at 5:55 AM, Dean May <deanmay at pianorebuilders.com> wrote:
> >>Is there a limit on just how loose a pin can be and still accept a CA treatment?
> 
>  
> 
> The only limits I've seen are on one old upright with a severely damaged pin block. In the situation you've described, i.e., a block good enough to respond to oversize pins, I've never had CA not work, even on pins as loose as you are describing.
> 
>  
> 
> Usually, all you need is enough CA to do a good soak on the bushing. I normally only do 2 passes. If you know where the problem areas are and they are pretty bad, go ahead and give those sections 3 passes. The CA needs a little time to set up, especially if the pin has taken a fair amount of glue. So don't panic if it doesn't tighten up instantly, just tune the rest of the piano and it should be tight by the time you are done.
> 
>  
> 
> On a normal CA application now I use about 1.5 oz. I buy it in the big 8 oz bottle and use bulb syringe applicators.
> 
>  
> 
> <image001.jpg>
> 
>  
> 
> For a particularly problematic pin, twist the pin back and forth while you apply CA to the base. This will allow more glue to penetrate deeper.
> 
>  
> 
> Worst case, you can also pull the pin out and squirt a little down in the hole, coating the sides. You don't need to over do it. You could even put an oversize pin in there while you have the original out if you feel you need the insurance. Personally, I cannot fathom the need to do all the pins in oversize when CA works so well. I have not put in a set of oversize pins in more than 10 years.
> 
>  
> 
> For a grand, of course, pull the action first and line the keybed with newspaper. For a vertical, you can lay it down until you get a little more experience with it. But I’ve done them vertically for the last 5 years or so. It just takes a little extra care but saves hugely on time and drama.
> 
>  
> 
>  
> 
> Dean
> 
>  
> 
> Dean W May (812) 235-5272 voice and text
> 
>  
> 
> PianoRebuilders.com (888) DEAN-MAY
> 
>  
> 
> Terre Haute IN 47802
> 
>  
> 
>  
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Rob McCall
> Sent: Monday, February 13, 2012 1:16 AM
> To: pianotech at ptg.org
> Subject: Re: [pianotech] open letter to CA users..???
> 
>  
> 
> The client had the budget for a repinning but not a restringing. All the pins are out now.  About 75% of them came out okay with minimal effort. The other 25% ended up getting cut close to the becket as possible, and then recoiled with a new becket.  The pinblock seemed in good shape. I checked the pinblock as thoroughly as possible and I didn't see any apparent issues with it.
> 
>  
> 
> It's in a 1983 Sherman Clay SDG2.  The new pins are going in today and they are holding nicely. The bass section is pretty much done and all new pins are tight in the pinblock. It just took a lot longer than I was expecting to get the old pins out.
> 
>  
> 
> I didn't realize there was a previous CA treatment until I started backing out the pins, and I do have a nice drill to do that, at least...  :-)
> 
>  
> 
> I don't know that more CA would've worked.  Most of the bass section wasn't just loose -- the tuning pin would not hold even the slightest tuning. It took about 60° of turn to bring it to pitch, and then when you let go it would unwind right back to where it started. It seemed way too loose for me for CA, but then my experience is limited on the edge of the envelope stuff for CA. Is there a limit on just how loose a pin can be and still accept a CA treatment?
> 
>  
> 
> Regards,
> 
>  
> 
> Rob McCall
> 
>  
> 
> McCall Piano Service, LLC
> 
> www.mccallpiano.com
> 
> Murrieta, CA
> 
> 951-698-1875
> 
>  
> 
> On Feb 12, 2012, at 22:01 , Ron Nossaman wrote:
> 
>  
> 
> > On 2/12/2012 11:50 PM, Joseph Garrett wrote:
> 
> >> Why bother? The whole idea is to get rid of the tuning pins and the
> 
> >> wire, is it not. Who cares if the wire is locked into/onto the tuning
> 
> >> pins? The whole mess will wind up in the circular file anyway. Right?
> 
> >> Joe
> 
> >>
> 
> >>    ----- Original Message -----
> 
> >>    *From:* John Ross <mailto:jrpiano at eastlink.ca>
> 
> >>    *To: *joegarrett at earthlink.net
> 
> >>    <mailto:joegarrett at earthlink.net>;pianotech at ptg.org
> 
> >>    <mailto:pianotech at ptg.org>
> 
> >>    *Sent:* 2/12/2012 9:47:46 PM
> 
> >>    *Subject:* Re: [pianotech] open letter to CA users..???
> 
> >>
> 
> >>    I would try a becket breaker.
> 
> >>    John Ross
> 
> >>    Windsor, Nova Scotia
> 
> >
> 
> >
> 
> > Uh, fellas, didn't he say he was repinning, not restringing?
> 
> >
> 
> > And Rob, why didn't the CA work where an oversize pin will? Is the block intact enough for that? Will a better application of CA to what's there do it and bypass the problem of getting the coils off altogether?
> 
> > Ron N
> 
> >
> 
> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> Nick Gravagne, RPT
> AST Mechanical Engineering

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