Key Bushings

[robert sadowski]

Jim,
    Take a strip of old wash cloth about 2" wide and 8 - 10" long.  Soak it
in water and wring out till damp.  Take 4 or 5 keys and turn upside-down on
the bench.  Take an old iron and lay on top.  The steam created will loosen
all but the most stubborn bushings.  5 - 10 seconds seems to work well.  I
was shown this method by Bob Russell.  It works great!

Bob Sadowski
Erie, PA.

-----Original Message-----
From: JIMRPT@aol.com <JIMRPT@aol.com>
To: pianotech@ptg.org <pianotech@ptg.org>
Date: Friday, February 06, 1998 4:39 PM
Subject: Key Bushings


>List;
> I am currently working on a set of keys whose front rail bushings, indeed
the
>entire front of the keys, has been soaked in McLube or some similar
substance.
> My usual method of soaking the bushing, allowing to stand, and then
steaming
>is not working especially well.  The water alcohol mixture is beading up
and
>the steam does not seem to be penetrating as well as it normally would.
This
>is causing quite a bit of 'tear out' in the mortises.  The old bushings are
>glued in with the white heat activated wafers.
> Any ideas? Tricks?
>Jim Bryant (FL)
>