Grand cleaning

[Joel A. Jones]

>On Sun, 21 Apr 1996 13:45:59 -0600 (MDT) you wrote:
>
>>Here in dusty ol' Wyoming, we're constantly battling the dust problem in
>>pianos.  Any suggestions/tips on cleaning grands, especially under the
>>strings at the pinblock?  I've used swabs, compressed air, etc., with
>>limited success. Keeping the cases closed when not playing of course
>>helps, but the dust is persistent!  Thanks in advance.
>>
>>Robert Hussa
>>Music Department
>>Central Wyoming College
>>2660 Peck Ave.
>>Riverton WY 82501
>>(307) 856-9291 Ext. 213
>>FAX (307) 856-5104
>>email:  hussa@odi.cwc.whecn.edu
>
>I've seen some folks use precut wool "blankets" for string covers.
>Alternatively I sometimes recommend to my customers to go to the
>office supply stores or computer stores and purchase those small cans
>of compressed air used to clean computer keyboards and such. Pricey
>cans but how often will they do it?
>                                Greg
>Greg & Mary Ellen Newell
>Greg's Piano Forte'
>12970 Harlon Ave.
>Lakewood, OH 44107
>
>e-mail;
>gnewell@en.com  or
>dt945@cleveland.freenet.edu


Greg and Robert,

I cut-up some stage drapes that were replaced and fit that material inside
the pianos.  Particularly in practice rooms it has worked out exceptionally
well in keeping 'trash' out of the pianos.
        We stretch the material in by poking a hole in the material and
inserting it over a tuning pin. Then secure that by putting a front rail
punching on the tuning pin.  Likewise, on the hitch pins we put balance
rail punchings.  This keeps the material stretched so it doesn't ride on
the dampers or the bass strings.  It also tells me quickly if someone has
been messing around inside the piano by first glancing at how the cover in
attached.
        This has kept the strings and soundboard  - particularly the tuning
pin area - clean and trashless.  It's a bit of work to cut and install, but
I figure it saves my budget for student help from constantly having to
clean the insides of our pianos.
        Make yourself a cardboard pattern and find some drapery material.
Have cover up the stings.
        One more thing  -   The piano students complained that this cover
was damping the sound and making the pianos 'dead'.  They also tried to
sell me on the idea that it would make servicing the piano harder to have
to remove the cover.  After some blind fold tests the students found that
they could not tell when the covers were on and when they were off.  In
fact, in these blindfold tests I found that the pianists could not tell
when the lid was up or down.  When sitting at the piano our test pianists
were wrong most of the time in guessing when the lid was up and when it was
down.  While not too scientific it proved enough  to me that the string
covers were not dampening the sound.
          Some pianists still find it hard to accept, but they're coming
around.  Sorry for the long post, but it is one of my current pet projects.
I'd be interested in your solutions.