Joel- Yes, Home Depot, $49. I've wanted a Stanley Steamer for a long time. I read they run on anything that burns. Unfortunately the electric starter put them out of business. See you in Kansas, one way or another...... puffa puffa puffa...... Ed > [Original Message] > From: joel jones <jajones2@wisc.edu> > To: <ed440@mindspring.com>; College and University Technicians <caut@ptg.org> > Date: 6/25/2004 8:11:00 AM > Subject: Re: Steamer > > Ed, > Is this Singer Lazer Steamer available in home depot, etc. ? > Approximate cost? > > Institute committee changed that for you next year. If it were a > Stanley Steamer, not a Singer, you could drive. > KC June 15-19. > > Joel > Assistant Director, Nashville > Madison, WI > On Jun 24, 2004, at 9:31 PM, Ed Sutton wrote: > > > Hi, Lance- > > > > Now and then on CAUT we have discussed light steaming of hammers and > > keybushings to lift the string grooves and flattened bushing cloth, > > noting > > that there seem to be two stages to wear: the first is flattening or > > compressing, the second is pulverizing or grinding. So, the theory > > is, if > > you steam the practice room hammers and key bushings once a year, they > > will > > play better and last longer. On the keys, it's best to insert a sizing > > caul or insert a hot sizing iron after steaming. > > > > You go quickly; maybe 20 seconds to steam 88 hammers, 3 seconds in the > > key > > bushing. It will also help slightly loose balance pin holes. (You can > > also do this with a damp cloth and hammer iron, though not quite as > > fast.) > > > > The Lazer Steamer jet is not as hot as what I get from a modified hot > > pot > > (lid taped shut and short tube taped into the spout), but it is more > > pressurized, and after the first squirt, rather dry. It doesn't put > > any > > more moisture on the plate than Q-tips and Murphy's oil soap, and > > because > > it's hot, it dries quickly. If you stayed in one place, you could > > build up > > moisture, so you keep moving. > > > > Although the hot pot was good for lots of things, it was dangerous - > > very > > hot steam, and prone to splatter if tipped or moved too fast. > > > > The Lazer steamer puts out enough pressure to blow off a damper if you > > get > > too close, but with care it fluffs old dampers enough to make a > > difference. > > > > So, as I keep saying, I think this contraption (Singer Lazer Steamer) > > has > > many uses in a piano shop. On the box they say it cleans just about > > everything. > > > > I'll let you know if I can make it tighten a loose tuning pin! > > > > The oil was 3 in 1 oil, just a little squirt on a rag, then wipe all > > the > > plain wires. It's something I do after polishing off rusty strings. > > > > Sorry, I won't be at Nashville. I'll be at Quaker Gathering in > > Massachusetts. The home office shoulda checked with our schedule! > > > > Ed > > > > > >> [Original Message] > >> From: llafargue <llafargue@charter.net> > >> To: <ed440@mindspring.com>; College and University Technicians > > <caut@ptg.org> > >> Date: 6/24/2004 8:04:52 PM > >> Subject: RE: Steamer > >> > >> Hey Ed, interested in revitalization of felt, especially hammers. Is > >> it > >> that they are hard and the steam swells them and adds resilience? I > >> too, was concerned about moisture on strings. Is the steam hot? How > >> 'bout oil? Is it mineral oil? How applied? I've seen it on a couple > >> of Yamahas, but didn't know if it was factory, since I've seldom seen > >> it. > >> P.S. Leaving for Nashville tomorrow if I don't respond. Are you > >> going? > >> Thanks. > >> > >> Lance Lafargue, RPT > >> LAFARGUE PIANOS > >> New Orleans Chapter, PTG > >> 985.72P.IANO > >> llafargue@charter.net > >> > >> > >> -----Original Message----- > >> From: caut-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of > >> Ed > >> Sutton > >> Sent: Wednesday, June 23, 2004 9:51 PM > >> To: College and University Technicians; caut@ptg.org > >> Subject: Steamer > >> > >> > >> Dear List- > >> > >> Yesterday I purchased Singer Lazer Steamer for $49 at home Depot. > >> I'm delighted with it. > >> It looks like a big teapot with a downward pointing nozzle. It > >> squirts > >> a > >> jet of steam when you press a trigger button. > >> So far I've tried it for softening dampers, reviving hammers, > >> reviving > >> keybushings and back key rail cloth, all with good results. > >> I tested for removing key bushings and found it worked well on hide > >> glue, > >> but needed a little glue softener added to the bushing for white glue. > >> The great delight was cleaning a plate and soundboard. It was the > >> best > >> I've ever done at getting the dirt out between strings at the > >> hitchpins. > >> I've used many home made steam shooters. None come near the ease and > >> dependability of this gadjet. > >> > >> Ed Sutton > >> > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> caut list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives > >> > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > caut list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives > > > > > Joel & Connie Jones > 9 Springwood Circle > Madison, WI 53717-1227 > 608 833 1488 > fax 608 833 6724
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