[CAUT] key bushings

[Willem Blees]

Susan

I too buy Renner cloth in sheets, and cut it using a rotary cutter on a 
cutting mat and a straight edge. For the straight edge, I cut an 
aluminum yard stick in half. But that was too slippery, so I glued some 
bushing cloth to one side. Now the straight edge stays put. 

Wim  

Quoting Susan Kline <skline at peak.org>:

> I concur. I bought a large selection of Spurlock's cauls and bulk 
> Renner bushing cloth many years ago, along with the large quilter's 
> cutting mat, rotary cutter, and a good heavy straight edge (steel, 
> made for carpet installers). I made myself the key clamps from Bill's
> 
> plans. I've never regretted having this gear. The results are very 
> good. One only has to be careful of the insertion distance, and of 
> being too aggressive by choosing cloth too thick. It may not be the 
> very most interesting use of one's time (good TV work) but the 
> results of good bushings are very gratifying, and can be obtained in
> 
> no other way. I do find that if I steam out the old bushings I have 
> to carefully size the balance rail holes afterwards.
> 
> Susan Kline
> 
> At 09:15 AM 11/4/2006, you wrote:
> >I vote for Spurlock key bushing cauls. I've used a Bushmaster and 
> >found it to be a very good tool, fast and accurate. However, I 
> >stopped using it because of the enormous amount of very expensive 
> >key bushing cloth left over, usually in pieces too short to be of 
> >any use. With the Spurlock system, you will only have a small piece
> 
> >of cloth left over with each strip of cloth you use.
> >
> >I also use the sizing cauls he sells and find them to be an 
> >indispensible part of the key bushing process.
> >
> >Best wishes,
> >
> >Tom Seay
> >Soon to be retired University Tech
> >Austin, TX
> >
> >>Since leaving my university job, I've had to purchase a number of 
> >>my own tools.  It's time for me to buy key bushing tools and I'm 
> >>curious what people think of the two major key bushing options, 
> >>Spurlock or Bushmaster.  I'm used to the Sprulock system, but I did
> 
> >>try the Bushmaster once.  It seemed like it wasted a lot of bushing
> 
> >>cloth, but it had the potential to be faster.  Anyone care to 
> >>comment on the strengths and weaknesses of each system?
> >>
> >>Richard West
> 


Willem Blees, RPT
Piano Tuner/Technician
School of Music
University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, AL USA