graphite

[Dave Nereson]

----- Original Message -----
From: Delwin D Fandrich <pianobuilders@olynet.com>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Friday, February 15, 2002 8:55 AM
Subject: Re: graphite


>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Dave Nereson" <dnereson@dimensional.com>
> To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
> Sent: February 13, 2002 5:15 PM
> Subject: graphite
>
>
> >     On this graphite thing -- everybody talks about it like it's anthrax
> or
> > something, but I don't find the stuff all that offensive.  Not powdered
> > graphite, anyhow.
>
>
>
> Depends on where it's used. As you say, other than being messy it doesn't
> cause much harm and can often do some good. When applied to action center
> cloth and used in action centers, however, it is the source of many
> problems. I've seen new shanks (using graphite in their centers) freeze up
> so badly physical force with a screwdriver through the strings was
required
> to return the hammers to rest.
>
> Treating action centers with graphite is not done often by technicians but
> it is by the factories making the actions. As may be, it doesn't matter
how
> the graphite ends up in the action center, once there it's all to likely
to
> cause problems down the road. That applies to damper guide rail bushings
as
> well.
>
> Del
>

    But didn't George Defebaugh and/or Steinway sell flange rebushing cloth
that had graphite in it?  I remember this stuff for sale at a National once,
and it was supposed to be the "good kind" of bushing cloth.  It wasn't all
that long ago -- Albuquerque, I think.  I still have a few strips.  Should I
throw 'em out?
    And what IS on the tops of jacks and repetition levers of older, and
even new actions? -- I always thought it was finely powdered graphite in
some kind of carrier, similar to DAG.  Have you rebuilders who used DAG on
jacks,
etc. in the past encountered problems with it later?
    While on the subject, what's the best stuff being used now for re-lubing
jack tips, tenders, rep levers, spring slots, etc.?    I remember Emralon,
which is now called _________??   And once I bought a can of something from
Schaff or APSCO that was intended for lubing the above parts, which it did,
I guess -- felt slick, anyhow --but I couldn't really tell how much I had
applied since it sprayed on clear, not green like the old
         -D.N.