Damp Action Drying

[pianoman]

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> From: Paul McCloud <smccloud@ix.netcom.com>
> To: pianotech@ptg.org
> Subject: Damp Action Drying
> Date: Friday, September 19, 1997 12:39 AM
Dear Paul,
Any drying procedures on keys and action should be done with them removed
form the piano, I'm sure you knew that.  I would seal the action and keys
in a box with several dampp-chasers and monitor the humidity before you
turn them on in the box and as they stay in the box.  After that I would
lubricate and go after it with a hair dryer aimed only at the centers and
not on high heat.  Then I would try it in the piano after checking key pins
and cleaning and lubing them.
Good luck on a Kimball.
James Grebe
> 
> List:
> 	I just finished working on a Kimball console action which was almost
> frozen due to dampness.  The house is only a few blocks from the ocean,
> and although it is on an inside wall, really soaked up a lot of
> moisture.  My usual "cure" is to dry the action slowly with a hair
> dryer, and then put Protek on the action centers  to keep them from
> soaking up more moisture.  I also put a dehumidifier in the piano. 
> Sometimes I use a shrinking solution ("Honey, I shrunk the action!") of
> alcohol and water.  I have had the unfortunate experience of
> overshrinking the centers, and had to rebush a whole set of hammer
> flanges.  Since most other places in the U.S. have much more humidity
> than San Diego, I'd like to know what other techs do to get rid of
> excess moisture in the action.  Am I setting myself up for callbacks by
> using the hair dryer method?  Is the dryer too strong, weakening glue
> joints, etc.?  Should I just repin the action and ignore the moisture in
> the bushings?  Just curious to know what others do.
> 
> Paul McCloud, RPT
> San Diego, CA