Hi Mike, I must apologize because my post back to you was written after my bedtime and was too strongly worded. I'm sorry. If I could relate an incident to you though. I have a client who is well to do, big house, all the stuff, trophy wife and a rebuilt "B". I had been tuning his piano for a few years and each year it became more and more sluggish. Finally I suggested that I apply my" t reatment " to it and they said yes. I think I was the only one playing the piano each year. I took my WD and my hair dryer. The jacks were the main culprit. I 'zitzed" the centers of the wippen and shank flanges and the centers for the jacks. I then got my hair dryer and went over the action for about 10 minutes. The action freed up pretty much and then tuned it without further incident. Earlier this summer I was called back, it had been a year, to tune it again. I went in the room and tried the keys. All seemed OK. I think there were only 2 or 3 fly centers that were slow. Is that a success story? I know many of you are going Yuck and phooey, but it is as I say. Someone posted that the addition of heat dries up any residue that is present. Maybe so. All I know is that I have had no problems with it. What are you to believe and what am I to believe? Different people have different experiences I guess. Anyway, I apologize for snapping off at you and anyone else as you feel just as strongly on this as I do. Personally, I prefer your "B" model to the "D". May you and it have a long life. Your friend, James Grebe R.P.T. of the P.T.G. St. Louis, MO. Competent Service since 1962 Do what is right and do no harm Creator of Handsome Hardwood Caster Cups and Practical Piano Peripherals pianoman@inlink.com ---------- > From: Mike Imbler <MIKE-IMBLER@worldnet.att.net> > To: pianotech@ptg.org > Subject: Re: WD-40 rebuttal > Date: Friday, September 11, 1998 11:22 PM > > James, I have learned from your posts, and enjoyed your observations. I > certainly did not intend to portray a vitriolic stance (I couldn't even > spell that without checking your post!). I have practiced as a mechanical > engineer for over twenty years, and have my opinion on the topic, but I > thought I had made it clear that I was not contradicting other's practical > experience, but trying to add my personal observations to the discussion! > > PS. You're right, my S&S is never going to get sluggish due to lack of > use or too much moisture! > > Best Regards, Mike > ---------- > > From: pianoman <pianoman@inlink.com> > > To: pianotech@ptg.org > > Subject: Re: WD-40 rebuttal > > Date: Friday, September 11, 1998 10:38 PM > > > > Hi Dick, > > Yes WD-40 has an odor. I know it stands for water displacement and that > is > > why I like it for sluggish actions due to moisture and it also works to > > free up tight centers from lack of use. Yes, I have found that most of > the > > time it does work successfully for this for a long time. I use it on > felt > > bushings all the time. As I said before I was underwhelmed with the use > of > > Protek, silicone spray and the rest. We can agree to disagree on our > > personal observations. As to the fellow with the B, I would hope your S > & > > S wouldn't get the chance to get sluggish because of lack of use or too > > much moisture. This whole subject again is turning into a vitriolic > stance > > against those who have used this product successfully in certain > > situations. Us users have a right to our beliefs based on our > experience. > > Do not resort to name calling type phrases to try to prove a point. > > James Grebe > > R.P.T. of the P.T.G. > > St. Louis, MO. > > Competent Service since 1962 > > Do what is right and do no harm > > Creator of Handsome Hardwood Caster Cups and Practical Piano > Peripherals > > > > pianoman@inlink.com > > > > ---------- > > > From: Dick Beaton <rbeaton@initco.net> > > > To: pianotech@ptg.org > > > Subject: Re: WD-40 > > > Date: Friday, September 11, 1998 9:57 PM > > > > > > Hi all.. > > > WD-40 stinks...literally! Thw WD stands for water dispersal. WD-40 is > > not > > > really a lubricant. It loosens up stuck nuts, etc. I surely wouldnt > use > > it > > > on a felt bushing!!!!! > > > Dick MT > > > -----Original Message----- > > > From: Don Mannino <dmannino@kawaius.com> > > > To: 'pianotech@ptg.org' <pianotech@ptg.org> > > > Date: Friday, September 11, 1998 6:23 PM > > > Subject: RE: WD-40 > > > > > > > > > >James, > > > > > > > >> Curious as to WD-40. I seem to be the only person > > > >> around who admits to > > > >> using this on action centers. I have used this for over 30 > > > >> years and have > > > >> had no disastrous consequences using it selectively and > > > >> carefully including > > > >> my own personal piano. > > > > > > > >Well, it's good you have had success with it. I tried it without > success > > > >many years ago in a few disaster situations. > > > > > > > >You are right in recommending that it not be used in plastic actions. > It > > > >will damage ABS, and will void the piano warranty if used on a Kawai! > > > > > > > >Some machinists used to use WD-40 for rust prevention on tools, but > they > > > >have generally stopped using it because one of the components in the > > > >formula will corrode steel over time, pitting the material. > > > > > > > >If you spray some in a container and leave it open for a while, you > will > > > >find that some parts of the liquid evaporate away, and it becomes > > > >progressively more thick and sticky. This isn't generally a good > > > >situation in action centers, although re-application may free it up > > > >again. > > > > > > > >I have seen actions in which WD-40 was applied in the 60s (only one of > > > >which was confirmed as WD-40, the others only suspected), and by the > 80s > > > >the action centers were very green and "vertigreed." The one sure > case > > > >was a Baldwin grand from the 50s in which the technician had left a > note > > > >with the date of lubrication, etc. I cleaned it out with naphtha and > > > >repinned, with at least temporary success, but the piano was then sold > > > >(and the seller told prospective buyers that "the action had been > > > >completely rebuilt by Don Mannino" - AAARRRGGHHH!) so who knows if it > > > >stayed free. It was the last time I agreed to do the cheaper job - I > had > > > >counseled them to replace the action parts. > > > > > > > >The last objection I have to using WD-40 is the same as with any > > > >lubricant - and this fits what you said, James, about "careful and > > > >precise" application. Many people apply lubricants to centers without > > > >really knowing why they are tight - burrs on the pins, humidity, tight > > > >flange on the birdse-eye, etc. This means the problem is still there > - > > > >it has only been bandaged. In addition, the consistency of friction is > > > >important from one note to the next, and lubricating will not make > them > > > >consistent. Any lubricant should be used to improve performance, not > > > >just cover up a problem. > > > > > > > >James, one of your tag lines says: > > > > > > > >"Do what is right and do no harm" > > > > > > > >I submit to you that not following the advice of others and waiting > > > >until you personally experience the problems that WD-40 can cause > before > > > >discontinuing it's use may not fit with your statement. Is it right > to > > > >say you are doing no harm, just because you haven't seen the harm yet? > > > >Perhaps I should put it this way: If you have one piano get gummy and > > > >sticky from the WD-40, will you then go to all the other pianos you > have > > > >treated to clean it out? > > > > > > > >Is there a reason you think others would say WD-40 is a problem, other > > > >than their having experienced problems with it? You essentially have > > > >said don't bother to write if you are a "WD-40 hater," but the net > > > >affect of this is to tell people "Don't bother me with the facts, my > > > >mind is made up!" Well, I don't hate WD-40 (I have a can in the > garage, > > > >really!) but I don't use it in pianos. > > > > > > > >Please do remember the Kawai warranty issue, at least. > > > > > > > >Don Mannino RPT > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >Other reasons for avoiding lubricants in genera > > > >
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