Cleaning under the Tuning Pins

[Wimblees@aol.com]

Jeffrey:

Thank you for a very good idea. However, there is something else that needs
to be taken into consideration when working on a piano that has been involved
in a fire, especially in the situation you described, which created that
black sticky soot.

That black soot goes everywhere, including under the plate, and all around
the hitch pins, and in the coils around the tuning pins. This soot is also an
abrasive material that will oxidide the strings. In a couple of years, when
the strings will start to break, the customer will have settled with the
insurance company, who will not pay to do any more work on the piano.

Although on the surface the cleaning you did resulted in a nice looking
piano, in reality, all you did was a nice cleaning. You did not repair the
damage caused by the fire.

Pianos that are involved in a fire where the only "damage" was soot, have to
be restrung. And before stringing, be sure the the plate and soundboard are
thouroughly cleaned with a strong cleaner that removes grease and stains.

Of course if there is water damage, (including steam),  the pin block should
be replaced, and depending on the severity, the action parts also might need
replacing.

Willem Blees  RPT
St. Louis