Hey Newton,
I knew you had heard bad things about silicone, but I did not know it
would travel up hill. I am going to do some research, and ask some chemists
about its properties, and report back to the list. One chemist I talked to
today, doubted that it would leave or travel from where it was put.
On the other hand, if a spray arasol can of silicone was used to juice
up the centers, it might well have found its way into other parts of the
piano. Evaporation also could contribute to its spreading.
Your pal Dan
on 8/31/01 12:59 PM, Newton Hunt at nhunt@optonline.net wrote:
> Hi Dan,
>
> I didn't want to name names but since you poked you head in I will take a shot
> at it. :)
>
> If you wax your car near your garage, the house windows are open, there is no
> breeze silicon can be detected at the window opposite from the garage. That
> stuff TRAVELS!!!. And therein lies it's liability. It likes to spread itself
> everywhere, one molecule thick, just like a baby can do with food and it's
> tray. If it is applied to the casters it WILL be in the pinblock in a matter
> of
> days. Enough and the piano will not hold. It will also get between the
> bearing
> points and the strings and cause tuning instability. It will get between the
> key and the plastic and the keytop will come off.
>
> How do I know this? A well known manufacturer used silicon to lubricate the
> actions of about 100 pianos. Eventually they replace every piano so treated
> because they just would not stay in tune. A very, very expensive lesson.
> Silicone then I have been yelling about the stuff. There are so MANY good
> alternatives out there why use such garbage.
>
> Benzene is a great cleaner but I will not use it to clean with because it
> causes
> liver damage, within weeks of use. Something things are dangerous to use
> something are stupid to use. Pick your poison.
>
> Loved to Martha.
>
> Newton
>
> thepianoarts wrote:
>>
>> Hi Newton,
>>
>> My guess is, (outside of the fish eye finish problem) that your adversity
>> to using silicone in treating tight bushings etc., is related primairly to
>> the possibality of it getting into the pinblock...yes? If so, the hammer
>> flanges in a Baldwin Acrosonic are a long way from the pinblock. What are
>> your thoughts? (Like I have to ask!)
>>
>> Dan
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