Silica Gel Packs

[John Formsma]

One of the representatives of a major piano company (?) mentioned
these bags at a technical presentation.  He said they should be
removed at the dealer.  Their purpose is for the boat ride over to the
States.

I take them out, then "renew" them.  Then they go in the trunk of the
car.  Do they do any good there?  I'm not sure, but it makes me FEEL
better.  <g>  I haven't seen any rust on my tools, so maybe it does a
little something.

JF

On 11/12/07, Phil Ryan <pryan2 at the-beach.net> wrote:
> 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