[pianotech] Key Bushing Job

[Steven Hopp]

Any suggestions for something other than ballistol?
 Is it similar to protek?

 

Thanks


Date: Fri, 3 Apr 2009 17:55:12 -0700
From: tunerryan at gmail.com
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Key Bushing Job











---- Original Message -----
From: "Steven Hopp" <hoppsmusic at hotmail.com>
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Sent: Friday, April 3, 2009 11:46:05 AM GMT -06:00 US/Canada Central
Subject: [pianotech] Key Bushing Job

Hello,
 
Just left a customers piano that would benefit from new key bushings.  However, on the way to lunch I thought the ones i looked at did not appear to be overly worn yet they are loose and make some side to side noise.  My question is:  is there anyway to swell the bushing and use an appropriate sized caul instead of completely rebushing the entire set?  Just wondering out loud so please don't beat me up. :)
 
Also the front rail bushings have black lines where the key rides on the pin.  What is the black stuff?
 
Thanks,
 
 
Steven J. Hopp
PianoWorks Studio
Midland TX.

I've had some success with 50/50 water/denatured alcohol with a tiny bit of Ballistol in it. This was on a fairly new piano so the felt was in pretty good shape. I use the double shoulder cauls from Bill Spurlock. It allows you to give a tap with a hammer and compress the wood while compressing the felt into the mortise at the same time. I'm not sure that anything special is in the Profelt.

Steve Brady also taught me a trick: If the felt is in pretty good shape you can stick a single voicing needle in the felt right where the mark from the pin is. This can actually snug things up quite well and it seems to last quite a while. 

-- 
Ryan Sowers, RPT
Puget Sound Chapter
Olympia, WA
www.pianova.net

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