Tip of the week (Maybe)

[Roger Jolly]

Hi Clyde,
         Now that has a poetic ring. I use an electric whistling kettle
with the whistle removed, this gives a nice 1/8th" jet of steam that has a
bit of pressure behind it, bushing removal is a snap. for swelling B/R
holes 3 secs works.  For removing bushing I like to do about 5secs from the
top of the key and 3secs from the bottom through the B/R hole.
  Rob asked about shrinkage due to dryness, and wondering if the keys
reverted to pullying. I have not found this to be the case, however there
is a difference between in longevity from maple shoed keys, sugarpine,
clear white pine and basswood.
  The piano that inspired the original post is still in the shop, so today
we removed several keys and toasted them with with a heat gun, just to try
and get them to pully but to no avail. This piano has maple inserts for the
B/R pins, and good maple buttons.
  I think the the reason it works is that you are swelling the end grain
and perhaps moving some of the fibers around and it seems to do the job.
I'm no wood expert, but experience and Del's imformation on compression
set, makes me wonder if true conpression has taken place. So Del your
thoughts please.
Regards Roger





At 07:05 AM 11/08/98 -0400, you wrote:
>Roger:
>
>I would like to try this.  How many seconds do you hold each key in the
>steam?  Also, I presume your kettle is one that puts out a rather
>forceful concentrated stream of steam.  Is this correct?
>
>Clyde Hollinger, RPT
>Lititz, PA
>

Roger Jolly
Baldwin Yamaha Piano Centre
Saskatoon and Regina
Saskatchewan, Canada.
306-665-0213
Fax 652-0505