[pianotech] Damper tail leathers - cleaning and lubricating?

[Tony Caught]

Hi David,

 

I would think a leather reviver as in this English site shows. Something
that you can spray on and say the work of taking them off.
http://www.desolvitshop.co.uk/acatalog/Leather_Reviver.html

I have used a thinned down lanolin, tipped an action on its end and dripper
the solution down the lift rod. Worked for six years that I knew the piano,
after that ??

 

You know lanolin, of the sheep's back.  Haven't tried Rhum so can't comment

 

Tony

 

Tony Caught

acaught at internode.on.net

0427 850 737

 

From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of David Boyce
Sent: Wednesday, 20 July 2011 11:05 PM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Damper tail leathers - cleaning and lubricating?

 

Thanks for those observations Tony. Do you recommend Rum for cleaning the
leather then??

I agree of course that the ultimate solution would be nice new leather (or
cloth). As a first-line approach, though, I would like to try and clean up
what's there to see if I can get it to work silently. What kind of "Restorer
spray" do you think would be good, and with what should I clean the leathers
before applying it?

Even if Rum doesn't clean the leathers, after 5 Rums, one might feel more
mellow about the "creaking".  Mind you, the piano is play by my friends' son
who in only 17, so I can't feel that it's a sound recommendation for
him.....

Best regards,

David.

P.S. The damper tails are of that nice kind that incorporate a grub screw
under the leather for fine adjustment in addition to bending the spoons.





WD 40 always.

Just Kidding

This is about the worst thingey to do.

The leathers are dry and I guess that some leather restorer spray may do the
job in the short term, but replacing the tails with a good felt or leather
is the right answer. That is of course if the damper lift rod in the action
(the piece that lifts the dampers) is in good condition.  Maybe you should
remove same and make sure that the surface is not rough or otherwise imparts
friction onto the leathers causing the leathers to squeek. Woops you did
this so I guess that the leathers are grunged to.  Not to mention the screws
holding the parts together. If loose they may also cause a creek. Then
again, this could also be caused by, hey I'm on my 5th rum for the night so
I have now got to dispute with myself wether to send this or not.

 

Tony

 

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