Green Dust in Action

[Lance Lafargue]

Patrick,
I'm familiar with verdigris.  This is not it.  It's BRIGHT green powder,
tons of it.  Looks like the chalk dust used for art work, Ninja
Turtle-like, like the blue chalk powder mixed with water for mating
pinblocks to plates, used in carpentry work, etc.  
LANCE LAFARGUE, RPT
LAFARGUE PIANO SERVICES
New Orleans Chapter
Mandeville, LA.
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lafargue@iamerica.net

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> From: CCLPianos@AOL.COM
> To: lafargue@iamerica.net; pianotech@ptg.org
> Subject: Green Dust in  Action
> Date: Friday, February 12, 1999 2:29 PM
> 
> Dear Lance, as a rebiller of Steinway grands I would venture to say the
Green
> stuff is "Verdigris." The name implies the color green. That is the
corrosion
> of the center pins. Like rust, but it's green.  Over the years,
especially in
> high humidity areas as New Orleans, this verdigris begins to accumulate
and
> then spill out of the action centers. (can be found on any of the action
brass
> parts) If you don't replace all of the infected centers, you'll have the
same
> problem in a few years/months. It isn't worth the effort to try and
"repair"
> this mess, if you want a high quality end product. However, for
conversation's
> sake, I have successfully "reversed" the corrosive nature by bathing the
> centers in Lacquer thinner (you must remove the action piece and soak in
a
> tub).  The effect creates large gaps in the action centers, because the
> corrosion has been washed out. Now, if you repin, you'll have a nice
center,
> for about 6 months. Really messy. That's why I like to gut and replace.
> Patrick Wethington