how about? for damper felts

[Allen Wright]

Andrew,

Although I'm certainly aware of the Pianotek option for this tool  
(and in fact used to have one at the college I worked at in the  
States), I'm  imagining just being able to drill a hole in a brass  
Pianotek bushing caul and install it on my soldering iron. And then  
to most definitely get a rheostat in the loop in order to control it!

I'm using the Pianotek brass bushing cauls here (the Bushmaster  
system), which is also seems to be an improvement (in terms of speed.  
at least, if not necessarily quality) over previous methods used in  
the shop here.

Thanks,

Allen Wright
On 19 May 2007, at 01:46, Andrew and Rebeca Anderson wrote:

> Mr. Wright,
> The soldering iron brass key bushing cauls are available from  
> PianoTek Supply.  They also sell rheostats to control the heat.   
> The point is to be able to drop water on the caul and have a drip  
> evaporate off as opposed to phoosing off into steam.  Ie, a wool  
> friendly temperature.  I use this for wool bushings that just won't  
> stay sized.  The cauls from PianoTek are sized so you can size the  
> bushings within 0.005 of the keypin.
>
> They're useful for encouraging stubborn bushings out too.   Never  
> thought carpenters glue was that difficult to remove...  How about  
> PVC-E?
>
> Andrew Anderson
>
> At 06:36 PM 5/18/2007, you wrote:
>> oh yes, Terry, I've heard people mention this felt wedge  
>> technique: so, should I presume that you have 88 little wedges for  
>> all the keys? This technique sounds like it might be even more  
>> focused than just soaking the bushings. I like the brass caul/ 
>> soldering iron idea - I'll have to make a tip like that for my  
>> soldering  iron. Sounds like the cat's meow...
>>
>> Cheers,
>>
>> Allen Wright, RPT
>> London, UK
>>
>>
>> On 19 May 2007, at 00:04, Farrell wrote:
>>
>>> I've never tried wallpaper remover with water - although I hear  
>>> very good results are had with that combo. I have always used  
>>> denatured alcohol & water - about 50/50 on both damper felts and  
>>> key bushing felts. Once the felt has been wetted, one can switch  
>>> to straight water. The 50/50 initial ratio seems to not be  
>>> critical at all. If hide glue had been used, after several hours  
>>> of soaking, felt simply falls off - no cutting, tugging, scraping  
>>> - no nothing - felt simply falls off.
>>>
>>> For white-type glue in key bushings, I have soaked with alcohol/ 
>>> water overnight. I place small wedges of dense felt in the  
>>> mortise to hold moisture right at the key bushings. Then I hit  
>>> each bushing with a very quick application of a dedicated hot key  
>>> bushing ironing brass piece in the soldering iron. The quick  
>>> blast of heat on the soaked bushing gives the bushing glue a shot  
>>> of steam and makes them all but fall out. Unfortunately there  
>>> remains some glue residue on the wood.  :-(
>>>
>>> I wish it were a law to only used hot hide glue on key bushings.  
>>> Pa-foo-ee on anyone that doesn't. ;-)
>>>
>>> Terry Farrell
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>
>>> While we're on this subject - I just introduced the notion of  
>>> using a damper felt removal solution (diluted wallpaper remover  
>>> and vinegar) rather than the manly (or womanly) slicing off and  
>>> sanding of old felts (the old-fashioned method they've been using  
>>> here), into the milieu of the Steinway London Restoration Centre,  
>>> where I've been working for the last few months. Lightbulbs went  
>>> on above heads when they realized how much time they won't be  
>>> wasting anymore if they incorporate this cheeky American  
>>> technique : )
>>>
>>> I've always figured that the ratios of the different ingredients  
>>> were not particularly crucial - just a well-diluted solution.  
>>> Does anyone have any comments on that? Is the vinegar really  
>>> necessary? I think my solution morphed over the years from one  
>>> including alcohol-water-vinegar to the present one, for vaguely  
>>> remembered reasons....
>>>
>>> For keybushing removal here, they've been using pure "meths'",  
>>> which as far as i can tell is a mix of ethanol and methanol  
>>> (yikes - isn't that toxic?) and lots of tugging and slicing. I  
>>> think the American solution will be an improvement with that, as  
>>> well.
>>>
>>> I know: steam and wet cloth works very well on key bushings also,  
>>> but that's probably a little too radical too present here.
>>>
>>> I'd be curious to hear if there are any other ideas on glue  
>>> softening solutions. This one works best with hide glue,  
>>> naturally. Anybody have a solution for white and other more  
>>> stubborn glues?
>>>
>>> Sincerely,
>>>
>>> Allen Wright, RPT
>>> London, UK
>>>
>

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