Enlightenment

[Carl W. Meyer]

Susan:  Irma Bombeck used to say that the only reason she would exercise is
so that she could hear heavy breathing again.  I've gone from breathing to
actually licking the bottom of the ivory key top and putting med or thick
ca on the key.  Don't need to put an oyster on it just a gentle lick. 
Works for me.  Haven't gotten hooked on the taste yet, but haven't come
down with any serious maladies either.  Any idea on the toxicity of old
ivory and the goop they used (whitened hide glue, I guess)?  You are the
closest thing to a toxicologist that I know.
Regards

Carl Meyer


> [Original Message]
> From: Susan Kline <sckline@home.com>
> To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
> Date: 9/25/00 8:37:49 AM
> Subject: Re: Enlightenment
>
> At 03:59 PM 09/24/2000 -0700, Tom wrote:
> >Excellent question, Diane. I think that there's more reason than profit
> >that the accelerator is a chemical not found under (or in) your kitchen
> >sink. I've tried plain water and it just makes a mess. There's no
> >chemical reaction.
> 
> I find that the instant (NOW!!!) bond isn't necessary. I've
> also read here that the bond isn't as firm if it is formed too
> quickly. If I want to speed up adhesion and haven't used white
> glue, I breathe on the work. (Does that make me a heavy breather?)
> 
> >Susan Kline discovered that white glue seems to do the job of
> >reattaching keytops, Elmer's on one part and CA on the other. Anyone for
> >doing some scientific research?
> 
> Actually, for keytops I use the CA plain. Oregon is humid
> enough that they set up fine, especially since CA has an
> affinity for organic material. Ivory is organic, wood is
> organic, and hide glue (what original adhesive remains)
> is organic. I use the CA and Elmer's frequently for other
> work, like action parts, rubber buttons (it is great for
> rubber buttons!) and cloth. You put the CA on the harder
> surface, and the Elmer's on the cloth, because it doesn't
> wick in as far. Donnie Byrd used CA and Titebond to hold
> on a set of new plastic keytops in Cuba, which is about
> as challenging an environment as you are likely to find,
> and when she returned a year later they were all still on.
> (At that point I just wave my hands in the air and shout,
> "YES!!!")
> 
> Susan 



--- Carl W. Meyer, Santa Clara, Ca.
--- cmpiano@earthlink.net