[CAUT] Bushing cloth thickness

[A440A at aol.com]

Fred asks, 
> Do you use cauls different from  Spurlock's standard sizes? I find they 
> require considerably thinner cloth than .053. <<
> 
      For Steinways, I use the stock felt with spring clamps on the balance 
rail, and, usually, .162" cauls   on the fronts.   For max. longevity, I try to 
avoid thick glue and heavy clamping pressure, as I feel that it basically 
turns the back of the cloth into an inflexible matrix, leaving less actual cloth 
to absorb the force of keys hitting the pins. 
 I once mixed up some hide glue, very thick, and began gluing the various 
felts to wood.   I then thinned it down, and glued the same felts.   Then, 
thinner yet.    It appeared that the thick glue captured more of the felt when 
pressure was applied, effectively rendering the "felt" to be thinner while 
supported by a much thicker glue/felt base.   It also made it more difficult to 
remove. 
 Since I am now rebuilding actions I did 20-25 years ago here at Vanderbilt, 
I really enjoy the ease of removing backrail cloth, damper felt, upstop rails, 
etc. that I glued with thin hide glue so long ago.   
hope that helps,
regards, 





> About humidity effects, It seems like the felt is a bigger factor, as high 
> humidity yields sluggishness. The idea being that felt will swell, closing 
> the gap, while the gap becomes wider due to expansion of the entire key (or 
> button). I guess if there is crushed wood, though, that would tend to swell in 
> high humidity, also closing the gap (kind of like what I imagine happens with 
> pinblocks and loose pins).
> Regards,
> 
> 
> 





Ed Foote RPT



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