Plastic Flanges, Repair or Replace?

[John Ross]

Thanks, Paul.
I suppose, I should have tried, and if it broke, who cares, as I had a spare.
John M. Ross
Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada
jrpiano at win.eastlink.ca
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: PAULREVENKOJONES 
  To: Pianotech List 
  Sent: Tuesday, August 14, 2007 12:18 AM
  Subject: Re: Plastic Flanges, Repair or Replace?


  Don Mannino would tell you, I think, that there is plenty of "give" in this material. I have pushed a number 25 (60 mils) pin through one and it works just fine. Don?

  Paul

  "If you want to know the truth, stop having opinions" (Chinese fortune cookie)


  In a message dated 08/13/07 20:46:33 Central Daylight Time, jrpiano at win.eastlink.ca writes:
    I am obviously not up with the composition, of the different 'plastics'. I still look at them as 'plastic' regardless of what the really are.
    I wasn't meaning the bushing as not being able to be reamed, I was wondering if the, what I now know is Styran, would have enough 'give' for the larger pin, or would it split.
    And yes, I did have a spare, and replaced it.
    John M. Ross
    Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada
    jrpiano at win.eastlink.ca
      ----- Original Message ----- 
      From: Michael Magness 
      To: Pianotech List 
      Sent: Monday, August 13, 2007 9:21 PM
      Subject: Re: Plastic Flanges, Repair or Replace?


      I have to assume since you say the piano is only 10 years old that it is a Kawai? What you are working with ISN'T plastic, plastics are petroleum based and were tried in pianos years ago and were an abysmal failure! 

      Kawai uses Styran, a rubber based man made material that has been a wonderfull success for them. The glue to rebush would be the PVC glue, the same glue you use to glue keytops to wood. I have not experienced loose pins just the occasional tight one. I don't understand not reaming for a larger pin unless the felt was worn through to the styran? 

      My understanding is the flanges are cheaper to produce yet have closer tolerances and are impervious to humidity. My point being, perhaps keeping a small supply of them on hand and tossing them, rather than rebushing them might be more economical. At some point you need to look at cost vs. time spent doing the repair of a readily available, fairly economical item. 

      One other point, do not under any circumstances use the alcohol & water treatment on the styran flanges if you feel they are too tight. The alcohol makes the styran brittle and will ruin it. If you have a few just re-pin if you have many use Naptha& water in a 50/50 mix. 

       
        Michael Magness
        Magness Piano Service
        608-786-4404
        www.IFixPianos.com
        email mike at ifixpianos.com 
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