Partly it's logistics: I find it quicker to apply powdered teflon if the keys are off (or the felt is laid out ready to be glued in). I can't say I have a reason to prefer the performance of one over the other. If I'm not going to take the time to remove keys from the frame, I'll apply Protek CLP or Prolube. But I almost always remove the keys for one reason or another (usually wanting to make sure the bushings are well fitted and ironed). The quickness comparison is maybe a little marginal when the bushings are already glued in. But a loaded pipe-cleaner does apply material to both sides at once. It seems a bit easier and faster. Maybe the material used is less expensive, though I can't say I've checked. I guess I also like to be able to see that, yes indeed, I have already lubed this piano's bushings. And I figure the material stays on the surface where it is needed, rather than penetrating to where it is wasted. I don't really know how much of Protek or Prolube is actual lubricant and how much is vehicle, and what exactly it does in terms of bonding and staying where it is needed. All told, just personal preference, which could easily change over time if a reason emerges to do it differently. Regards, Fred Sturm University of New Mexico fssturm at unm.edu On Oct 30, 2008, at 6:05 PM, Ed Sutton wrote: > Fred- > > I'm curiou why you prefer Teflon on the cloth over ProLube on the > cloth. > > Ed S. > > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Fred Sturm" <fssturm at unm.edu> > To: "College and University Technicians" <caut at ptg.org> > Sent: Thursday, October 30, 2008 8:01 PM > Subject: Re: [CAUT] S&S Key Bushings > > >> On Oct 30, 2008, at 1:23 PM, Jim Busby wrote: >>> Thanks Fred, >>> >>> I forgot about the Teflon in the bushings. Do you do that very last? >>> >>> Jim >> When I put in new bushings, I apply the teflon before I glue in >> the felt. WIth a brand new piano, I put teflon in with a >> pipecleaner, then follow with heat. Reason? The pipecleaner >> "fuzzes up" the felt so it needs to be ironed down again. With the >> new piano, the bushing has never been ironed and probably needs >> some sizing, as well as lubing and ironing, so this is just a >> standard, assembly line process. The way I use the heated cauls, I >> don't find any affect on the teflon powder. >> At this point, I haven't done any steam sizing of bushings that >> weren't already tefloned for quite a while. But I think I would >> steam, then do a first, quick ironing, then apply teflon, then a >> final ironing. >> Chris says with the VS you don't need the additional lube. I guess >> I'll see, but my take is that what is described as being in the VS >> (1% silicone) is probably a lot less lubrication than a fairly >> think application of teflon powder on the felt, and a coating of >> McLube on the pin. (Why McLube on the pin? In my experience it >> sticks on metal much better than ProLube, and it seems to be the >> slipperiest substance I have come across. Granted it's killing >> brain cells, or the solvent part of it is. But who needs those? >> <G>). >> Regards, >> Fred Sturm >> University of New Mexico >> fssturm at unm.edu >>
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