moisture in wool or wood. was Re: When to do it

[Richard Moody]

In a message dated 12/28/00 4:55:40 PM Central Standard Time, JIMRPT@AOL.COM
writes:

<< I have no doubt that leather tends to swell up when soaked with water but
I
 don't 'think' that wool does so. Has anybody done any experimentation on
 whether wool changes size with moisture absorption? There has been much
 speculation in this thread based on the felt changing size and I wonder if
it
 really does?
 Just a passing thought.
 Jim Bryant (FL)  >>


If wool didn't absorb moisture and swell, then what accounts for sluggish
centers? Is it the wood around the bushings that swell to tighten the
center,
or is it the wool that expands that causes the problem? I would suspect the
wool. That is why can use a Protek, or the old fashioned alcohol and water,
to ease the bushing. Or is that just to free up the wool, which is being
pressed against the pin by the wood that is swelling?

Willem

    Whether the felt swells or the wood swells around the felt causing tight
centers, it doesn't matter as long as the remedy cures.  I was taught the
water and alchol treatment then heating the whole action to dry.  This was
called "wetting the action", or "watering", or "watering the centers".
Also a tip was passed along of using a wetting agent such as Photoflo to
make the solution go into the felt and wood more rapidly.
    Later on I found Protek CLP worked just as well and did not need the
heat treatment.  There may be exceptions as I am limited in practice.
    I believe the guy who invented the center pin and felt bushing also
discovered "wetting the action", because without this treatment I do not see
how the pin-bushing concept could have survived. Say, I have never heard who
did invent the center pin and bushing or when it first appeared and by whom.
Can anybody  shed some light on this?  What were the alternatives
or predecesors?......  Ever see a parchment hinge?  ---ric

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