[CAUT] Query about "Cold Storage"

[Otto Keyes]

One of the major problems with cold weather storage/transport is the problem
of cold-checking of the finish.  Mid-winter shipping was often a problem,
especially with the polyester finishes.  This is because of the difference
in expansion/contraction rates of the finish vs. the substrate, or just the
rate at which the temperature change occurs.  It's kind of the reverse of
pouring boiling water into a glass jar you just pulled out of the freezer.

With the barrel wood stove in the old garage it was a combination of
unevenly warmed wood (ie. drier in some areas than others), & the fact that
the RH changed as the temp. dropped.  There was no insulation, so temp.
swings were pretty sudden & drastic.  Really had no business spraying
lacquer in that setting, but none is so bold as the ignorant!  :-0   Those
pianos gave many lessons to a neophyte in piano technology -- "don't ever do
that again!"

Otto

----- Original Message -----
From: "Ron Lindquist" <rrlindquist@g2a.net>
To: <Cramer@BrandonU.CA>; "College and University Technicians"
<caut@ptg.org>
Sent: Tuesday, September 27, 2005 6:22 PM
Subject: Re: [CAUT] Query about "Cold Storage"


> A old timer, who was a good chemist told me  that   the change in
> concentration of   elements  was what caused
> problems.    Moisture  ,   when it changes    states ,  causes all kinds
of
> problems ---that is,    in regard to  wood , pianos ,---Temperature
> ,  (    3/3.   Who was  Ospensky  (sp))
> I've  had  four  pianos, --  go  from  + 93 % R.H. at,  98  Deg. F.
> ,   to   -----,  minus 45Deg.-F---almost   5% R.,H.
> Change temperatures slowly    to     let  moisture   aqulimate.