Dave, That is one powerful vacuum if you can leave it in the car...;-] I've got a Port-o-vac that works well...is their a way to measure a vacuum's intake power other than against your hand and saying "Hmm, seems pretty strong." David Ilvedson, RPT Pacifica, California ----- Original message ---------------------------------------- From: "David Nereson" <dnereson@4dv.net> To: pianotech@ptg.org Received: 2/6/2006 12:37:44 AM Subject: cleaning >John Formsma wrote: >> Marshall, >> >> Carry a little package of "Handy Wipes" to clean your hands after you >> finish. You can get them from just about anywhere. >> >> John Formsma >> >> pianotune05@comcast.net wrote: >> >>> Someone out there mentioned a vacuum. Are you guys referring to >>> those little Dirt Devil type? I'd like to vacuum out a piano >>> especially behind the knee board. Also, is there something useful to >>> clean pins, the plate and even the strings? My hands are black when >>> I'm done tuning. >>> Marshall >>> ps. I was writing up the invoice on Friday with dirty hands, not that >>> I mind dirt, but I want to look professional. >> >> > Not "Handy Wipes," but "Wet Ones" in the round plastic can. They >even make anti-bacterial ones. > The little Dirt Devil-type vacuums are too small and not powerful >enough except for a cursory cleaning on top of the keys, perhaps. I >went to a used vaccum cleaner store and found a Hoover Shoulder Vac (has >a shoulder strap) for about $40. I leave it in the car, along with the >brush attachment and crevice tool (thin nozzle). > For the tuning pins, I use a 1 in. paintbrush to loosen the dirt >while vacuuming with the crevice tool, and I have another brush with the >bristles worn way down which I use on the bridge pins, hitch pins, >stringing braid, embossed details, etc. For the strings, the brush >attachment get most of the dust and the paintbrush gets in where the >hose attachment won't fit. For in between strings, to dust off the top >of the bridge (uprights), I use a thin glue brush with the handle >flattened. It has masking tape wrapped around the end of the ferrule so >as not to scratch soundboards. For the plate, I just dust it with a >rag. If it's really dirty, I'll spray 409 or similar cleaner on a damp >rag and use that. For rust on strings, I use Polita, the "ink >eraser"-type chunk of rubber with abrasive in it, available from Schaff, >I believe. Steel wool's OK, too. With either, you have to vacuum up >the rubbings. > For the soundboard tools, I use the T-shaped squeegee-type tools >along with a soundboard steel (wrapped in shrink tube) to push a dust >rag around under the strings. Sometimes I'll dampen it with a dust >control spray, or even use a damp rag with 409 on it if there are >spills, stains, etc. > After cleaning, if my hands are too dirty for just a disposable >wipe, I'll ask the customer if I may wash my hands. They never >refuse. Just don't make their freshly scoured kitchen sink look like >one in a gas station. What I would like to see is some kind of "fuzzy >snake," like wind instrument players have for cleaning trombones, >saxophones, etc., that one could push down (or up) the length of the >long bridge on uprights. It would have to be able to slip between the >plate struts and strings somehow. I suppose one unison could be >loosened or removed for access in extreme cases. --David Nereson, >RPT >_______________________________________________ >Pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives
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