[CAUT] Query about "Cold Storage"

[Jeff Olson]

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Thanks, guys (and gal!) for the input.  On second thought, I think I may =
move to San Diego... :-)  (Especially after reading your account, Otto, =
which was frightening on many different levels :)

So the winters have been mild, Tim?  My aunt, who lives in Brookings, =
says the same thing.  I'll be residing in a small town rather north of =
that, so I hope that holds (she's lately referred to a rumor about an =
impending "harsh winter" that sounds almost like an anticipated ice age =
or something:).

This business of heating up the garage from very cold and then spraying, =
and then, presumably, letting the garage cool down some time thereafter =
is somewhat worrisome to me.  I don't doubt it could work, but it seems =
that if you didn't keep the place warm enough for some period -- a day =
or two? -- you'd be putting your finish at risk.  Also, unless the =
garage or shop is really insulated, even to keep at it near-70% for a =
day or two would be costly, wouldn't it (that would include keeping it =
warm all night)?  I had thought, as John Ross suggested, to damp-chase =
any piano I had in my garage; the suggestion about moisture rising from =
the cement floor struck me as a good caution (incidentally, John, any =
relationship to the famous Cherokee Indian John Ross?)

Damn, I may just take up ice fishing or something in the dead of winter =
instead of piano work...

:-(  JeffO
  ----- Original Message -----=20
  From: Tim Coates=20
  To: College and University Technicians=20
  Sent: Tuesday, September 27, 2005 2:05 PM
  Subject: Re: [CAUT] Query about "Cold Storage"


  Jeff,

  Having lived in SD for 41 years and been a piano technician here for =
34 years I need to clarify a few things. We don't get sub zero temps =
very often any more. The wind chill can get it down there, but the past =
10 years have been pretty mild. I really like a good blizzard because it =
is a gift: absolutely helpless to do nothing but stay home or work in =
the shop. It is a rather pressure releasing situation. People who try to =
beat a storm are considered foolish. The winters have been almost too =
mild because we need the moisture from the snow to help the agricultural =
industry. Agriculture is still our number one industry. Credit cards and =
health services are catching up, though.

  There is more humidity in cold air than if you take the same air and =
heat it. Use a good humidity gauge and do a test to see the =
differential. I don't recommend to customers to store a piano in an =
unheated area for more than a year. The important aspect is not to warm =
the piano too fast. Condensation will develop. My home piano spent 5 =
years in an unheated garage before I did anything with it. It is solid =
as a rock even though it isn't a top of the line constructed piano. I =
know technicians around here who have refinished in their garages during =
the winter, they just did the proper warming before and after spraying.=20

  Hope this helps.

  Tim Coates
  University of South Dakota
  University of Sioux Falls

  On Sep 26, 2005, at 9:18 PM, Jeff Olson wrote:


    Many of you probably hail from "hardier" climates than I, and since =
I'm about to move to a hardier (euphemism) climate -- South Dakota -- =
I've been wondering about the effects of  sub-zero temperatures on =
pianos.  Do any of you who reside in cold climes store your pianos in a =
shop/garage over the winter.  If so, any negative consequences?
    =20
    I'm fairly sure that wood finishing would be out of the question =
during those cold months without adequate heating....
    =20
    JeffO
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