Protecting plain wire from rust

[Andrew and Rebeca Anderson]

Mark,
Boston uses an "approved" grease on their unwound stringing destined 
for wetter climates.  Piano voicing can redistribute this a little 
and it tends to collect hammer felt and dust.   I personally 
recommend using Edwards StringCovers.  The felt prevents condensation 
and buffers humidity.  Combined with a DC and undercover the whole 
piano is well protected.

Sincerely,
Andrew Anderson

At 11:15 PM 3/24/2006, you wrote:
>Hi, all. Here's something I've been wondering about.
>
>In pianos with rusty strings, I use Protek on the strings where they 
>pass under the capo, and where they pass through the agraffes, as 
>well as on the counterbearing felt, to help ease rendering. It 
>works, and seems to keep on working for at least a few months, maybe 
>longer. I have often wondered if there is any substance (such as, 
>oh, maybe, Protek?) that people use on clean, shiny strings to 
>prevent rust or tarnish ever developing? I could imagine taking 
>whole rolls of wire and dipping it in a bath of XYZ-stuff before 
>stringing, or sponging it on in the piano.
>
>We are instructed to coat practically every other metal surface in 
>every device in our lives (think car) with something or other, so 
>why not piano strings? I guess we could expand the question to 
>include copper-wound bass strings, too, if anyone has any thoughts 
>about those. I'm interested to hear people's ideas.
>
>-Mark Schecter