Plastic action parts

[Elwood Doss, Jr.]

Phil, thank you for your response.  I would like to feel the way you do
about the modern plastics, but manufacturers probably said that when they
first began to use plastics.  Let's give current composites another 30 to 40
years and see how long they last.  We DO know how long wood flanges last.
Joy!
Elwood

Elwood Doss, Jr., RPT
Piano Technician/Technical Director
Department of Music
145 Fine Arts Building
University of Tennessee at Martin
Martin, TN  38238
731-881-1852
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Phil Bondi" <phil@philbondi.com>
To: "Pianotech" <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Saturday, December 18, 2004 6:13 AM
Subject: Re: Plastic action parts


> Elwood Doss, Jr. wrote:
>
> >Hey, the action collapsed on itself long ago!  I cringe when I see
plastic
> >action parts in a piano.  It's a disaster!  Gimme wood parts any day!
> >
> >
> Once again, I feel compelled to chime in on this somewhat contoversial
> subject.
>
> Elwood, plastic parts in pianos made before 1980, or thereabouts, will
> be subject to premature failure because of the basic composite of the
> plastic used. Plastic parts of today will be much better, not affected
> by humidity swings AS MUCH as wood is(bushing cloth in plastic will
> still swell and shrink, but not as much), and the parts will be stronger
> than their wood counterparts.
>
> Let technology move forward, and let's keep an open mind to the
> possibility that the manufacturers are trying to do the right
> thing..Kawai comes to mind as a manufacturer working with composites.
> There are others, I'm sure.
>
> Phil Bondi(Fl)
>
>
>
>
>