James; thanks for your kind note. As you say, we all have different
experiences and form our opinions from them. I must say that your
experience with WD-40 has forced me to re-examine my position on it. As I
have never favored theory over real life experience, I wouldn't argue with
the success you have had with it! Perhaps, the combination of heat and
application of WD40 displaced moisture/grunge and then evaporated the WD40
to leave no grit trap.
Best
Regards, Mike
----------
> From: pianoman <pianoman@inlink.com>
> To: pianotech@ptg.org
> Subject: Re: WD-40 rebuttal back
> Date: Saturday, September 12, 1998 6:26 AM
>
> 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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