[CAUT] VSProfelt vs alcohol/water/softener vs steam

[Ed Sutton]

David-

Try it.
It's easy. Very, very easy.
I promise.

And if it goes wrong, then go ahead and rebush.

Ed Sutton


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David Ilvedson" <ilvey at sbcglobal.net>
To: <caut at ptg.org>
Sent: Friday, March 13, 2009 1:12 AM
Subject: Re: [CAUT] VSProfelt vs alcohol/water/softener vs steam


> Fred,
>
> With all the things that have to go right for this stuff to work, doesn't 
> it make more sense to just rebush?
>
> David Ilvedson, RPT
> Pacifica, CA  94044
>
> ----- Original message ----------------------------------------
> From: "Fred Sturm" <fssturm at unm.edu>
> To: caut at ptg.org
> Received: 3/12/2009 3:40:17 PM
> Subject: Re: [CAUT] VSProfelt vs alcohol/water/softener vs steam
>
>
>>On Mar 12, 2009, at 10:36 AM, Dan Reed wrote:
>
>>> Fred, Thanks for researching this.I'm very interested in using steam
>>> for puffing up compacted felt, and am looking forward to your
>>> technique. How to keep the glue contact surface intact in the key
>>> bushings is my question.
>>>
>>> Dan Reed
>>> Dallas, Tx
>
>> It's a matter of timing, of how long you apply the steam. If you are
>>removing bushings, you need quite a few seconds, maybe even a minute
>>or so, to loosen the glue joint enough so the bushings will come out
>>easily. Bushings and the glue that was used do vary, so you do need to
>>pay attention. But I have found that a fairly rapid steaming as I
>>described, where the bushings get one second or so of steam, possibly
>>repeated once, does not loosen the glue joint enough to make the
>>bushing loose. Most of the time, the felt swells and the glue joint
>>isn't affected at all. And following with the key bushing iron, again
>>paying attention to time (less than one second per bushing, possibly
>>repeated), this will tend to reset the glue if it has become loosened
>>a bit (kind of like ironing veneer to get it to restick where it has
>>bubbled up).
>> I iron all my rebushing jobs. Occasionally I'll have a bushing that
>>wasn't quite glued tightly - usually because I let the glue get too
>>cold before inserting the felt and the caul. I find that the iron will
>>melt the glue and set the joint adequately. But you don't want too
>>high a heat, or too long a time. Or you will melt the glue enough to
>>pull it into the felt.
>> It's not as touchy as the description makes it sound. Just common
>>sense. Like ironing clothes, where you can scorch the fabric if you
>>have the iron set too hot, or you don't keep it moving. But it's not
>>real hard to iron clothes successfully. There is plenty of leeway if
>>you are paying attention.
>> The best way to learn this technique, and not be worried about the
>>result, is to try it next time you have a rebushing job. Just try it
>>on a section of bushings, running the steam and following with the
>>iron. I think you'll find that there isn't a lot to worry about.
>>Regards,
>>Fred Sturm
>>University of New Mexico
>>fssturm at unm.edu
>
>