Silica gel

[Susan Kline]

Jim Harvey wrote:

<snip>
>I keep a couple bags in my wire kit. This fits the small and 'captive'
>environment parameter since the container has a seal. Whether it's the
>container, the silica, or a combination, I don't know, but I don't have
>problems with rusty piano wire!


This makes me curious, Jim. Although my piano wire lives in an old
Samsonite overnight bag in the car in this rainy climate, and has no silica
gel in with it, I don't have trouble with rusty wire, either, although the
spools rust quite a bit. 

Do the manufacturers put a light coating of some kind, like grease, on the
wire? I know that the wire certainly isn't stainless steel. Might it be
best to avoid vigorous cleaning of wire in pianos near the ocean, since it
might remove whatever this is?

Susan

 

Susan Kline
P.O. Box 1651
Philomath, OR 97370
skline@proaxis.com