[pianotech] Key Bushing Job

[Michael Magness]

On Sat, Apr 4, 2009 at 8:59 AM, Paul T Williams <pwilliams4 at unlnotes.unl.edu
> wrote:

>
> Good one, Ryan,
>
> I forgot that one that Steve taught me too many years ago to admit!
>
> Paul
>
>
>
>   *Ryan Sowers <tunerryan at gmail.com>*
> Sent by: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org
>
> 04/03/2009 07:56 PM   Please respond to
> pianotech at ptg.org
>
>    To
> pianotech at ptg.org  cc
>   Subject
> Re: [pianotech] Key Bushing Job
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ---- Original Message -----
> From: "Steven Hopp" <*hoppsmusic at hotmail.com* <hoppsmusic at hotmail.com>>
> To: *pianotech at ptg.org* <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* <http://www.pianova.net/>
>


 My mentor taught me a trick many years ago that I have used on occasion for
loose front rail bushings. Only where the bushing is in fairly good shape
just loose from side to side.
Using a utility knife, make a small cut in the wood next to the the bushing
felt, using the back of the knife press some folded paper or thin card,
paper punchings of various sizes work well, into the cut you made, doing
this on both sides until it fits properly. Seal the cut with a little glue
and you've saved your self a re-bushing job.
Mike
-- 

I intend to live forever. So far, so good.
Steven Wright


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