<HTML> <HEAD> <TITLE>Re: [CAUT] McLube thoughts</TITLE> </HEAD> <BODY> On 8/3/06 4:43 PM, "Don Mannino" <DMannino@kawaius.com> wrote: <BLOCKQUOTE>My experience has been that heavy, repeated application to key pins can cause the felt to become compacted and hard.  This is not from a single application, mind you - the only time I have personally seen this problem was in a piano that was getting a treatment each month by a tuner who was trying to prevent bushing wear in a crazily heavily used instrument.  After about a year, the bushings seemed worn out because the keys had become loose and noisy.  On close inspection, though, the bushings were not worn, but were compacted and waxy feeling.  After a quick steam application and inserting sized cauls, the keys were good as new.  So the McLube seems to have prevented wear, but the bushing was so hard and compressed that it seemed worn out anyway. </BLOCKQUOTE> Hi Don,     I’m thinking this was application to the key bushings, not the pins, from what you are describing. And, yes, in that case the residue would build up in felt and become hard. I can’t imagine it building up on key pins if you apply it with a cloth. The solvent on the cloth will tend to pick up any remaining residue, and the amount of “hard white material” left will be pretty minimal. I don’t think it would transfer much to the cloth bushings. Maybe a bit to the surface, but it wouldn’t penetrate and turn the cloth hard. And if application of McLube only follows polishing with Flitz, there will never be much build up.     For application to bushings with keys and action in place, I think Protek CLP or ProLube would be much better choices. I’m not sure that they might not become gummy over a long period of years, but over a few years that doesn’t seem to be a problem. They seem to cure most squeaky bushings fairly permanently, unless the felt is worn away to the glue.     I do think McLube is essentially the same material that Steinway uses to impregnate flange bushings. For that purpose, stiffness can be a virtue. Not for key bushings, though.     I’m willing to accept your description of the residue as somewhat waxy, but not nearly as soft as cold paraffin. A fingernail won’t dent it readily. Regards, Fred Sturm </BODY> </HTML>