[pianotech] Rebuildable S&S B

[Dale Erwin]

Thump
  All due respect I've tried the naptha and the perchlorethylene &, repinning treatments etc. 
 Never had one stay free for more than a year
The toxic side affects is enough for me to say the method isn't worth the human health risk


Dale Erwin R.P.T.
Erwin's Piano Restoration Inc.
 Mason & Hamlin/Steinway/U.S. pianos
www.Erwinspiano.com
Phone: 209-577-8397

 
  





-----Original Message-----
From: Euphonious Thumpe <lclgcnp at yahoo.com>
To: pianotech <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Fri, Jan 4, 2013 12:14 am
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Rebuildable S&S B




Hi, Paul. I'm going to guess that's "my" brake part cleaner vs. verdigris technique you used "with great success", and am glad to hear it. But feel obligated to remind everyone that brake part cleaner is largely made up of xylene --- I suspect the most dangerous solvent in terms of causing (hopefully temporary) neurological harm: such as disorientation accompanied by a SEVERE lack of emotions (enough to make others around you wonder "what's up"!) numbness of fingers (if you get any on them) that can last for weeks, and etc.. So, if used, should be used with the GREATEST of caution (outdoors, with a fan blowing over the work, while wearing goggles, a charcoal filter mask and a couple of layers of disposable gloves that will need to be changed often---as it can go right through them without melting the gloves themselves --- at least the vinyl ones.......)
     And since posting that technique, I've spoken with a chap who claims to have a better, safer one: putting all the action parts in a tub of naptha and letting them soak, then blasting all the centers with a compressed-air blow gun pointed straight into them, to blast the verdigris out. (And then, I'm guessing, another dunk and swish- but into a vat of clean naptha, to rinse the contamination away. And then a few days to air out before lubricating the centers, knuckles and and jack tips.)
      While similar cautions should be used with the naptha, it is not as toxic.

Thumpe


            
                
                    
                    
                                                    
                                                            From:                                                        Dale Erwin <erwinspiano at aol.com>;                            
                                                            To:                                                         <pianotech at ptg.org>;                                                                                                     
                                                            Subject:                                                        Re: [pianotech] Rebuildable S&S B                            
                                                            Sent:                                                        Fri, Jan 4, 2013 6:28:42 AM                            
                                                        
                            
                                
                                    
                                        
Hi Paul
 The value is really determined by what the cost of a total restoration would be. A 1929 B rode hard and put away wet, as you put it, is most likely going to need 
everything including a new key set. So if the restoration cost are for example 35K to 40 K the question remains.....what can it be sold for after work?
Many shops across the country are finding it difficult to recoup 50K for even the most fastidiously restored Bs. In my opinion that's a tragedy but it is what it is.
 In my opinion the piano presently is perhaps worth 7 to 12 K depending on condition.
 Bob Friedmans is a stand up guy with his finger on the pulse nationwide. Call him


Dale Erwin R.P.T.
Erwin's Piano Restoration Inc.
 Mason & Hamlin/Steinway/U.S. pianos
www.Erwinspiano.com
Phone: 209-577-8397

 
  





-----Original Message-----
From: paul bruesch <paul at bruesch.net>
To: Pianotech List <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Thu, Jan 3, 2013 7:12 pm
Subject: [pianotech] Rebuildable S&S B


I have a customer with a 1929 S&S (NY) B. It's been in a supper club for many years, been rode hard and put up wet. Customer says the action is from another B which was in even worse condition. This action is verdigris'd, although I did very successfully use the brake parts cleaner trick on it. 


Customer has a second S&S B from 1968. It has also been in the supper club for years, but it is in overall much better condition.


He called me recently to ask if I thought he could sell one or the other of them. I suspect he's having cash flow issues, but I didn't ask. I suggested he should sell the 1929 model - because then he'd still have a piano in the place! He wanted me to suggest an asking price. I declined, but mentioned something I'd read here a few years back about a rebuilding carcass going for ca $1000 per foot. I don't recall if that was before or during the plantetary economic slump... does that rule of thumb still apply? Or is it regional, like a better-playing instrument?


Thanks!
Paul Bruesch
Stillwater, MN

 

                                    
                                
                            
                    
                
            
 
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