---------- > 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
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC