Silica Gel Packs

[Rob & Helen Goodale]

I have had a few of those big ones break when unboxing new pianos.  What a 
mess!  With age the thread holding the little sacks closed could potentially 
weaken and break causing an amusing scene for some future technician!

Rob Goodale, RPT
Las vegas, NV



> Opened a ten year old Belarus upright piano and found three cloth bags of 
> silica gel hanging from the lid hinges resting on the felt silencer bar 
> against the tuning pins.  Later found three more "pillows" in the bottom 
> of the piano.  They had been there since the piano was new.  When I 
> mentioned to the owner of the uselessness of these old bags, she stressed 
> that the last two tuners of the piano told her they were still beneficial 
> and had been keeping it in tune all these years.  I dutifully replaced 
> them in their original places after the tuning and left.  Am I nuts? (Be 
> nice)  We used to throw these away at the dealer at prep time.  Have times 
> changed?  Are ten year old silica gel sacks still viable?  Can they harm a 
> piano, other than falling into the action?
>
> Phil Ryan
> Miami Beach