[pianotech] Guess which pin...

[Tom Gorley]

On trips to the Wurlitzer and Baldwin factories in the 70's, Baldwin said use 50/50 and Wurlitzer said 2 to 1 in favor of alcohol.  Both said to use methanol and not denatured alcohol.  I never knew why. Your success with denatured seems to make that advice moot, especially with methanol being a little harder to obtain.

---Tom Gorley


On Jul 31, 2011, at 8:43 AM, Ryan Sowers wrote:

> I've tried various ratios. I'm not completely convinced that it makes a lot of difference. Personally I use 50/50 denatured alcohol and water. I think air drying works than artificially drying it with a heat gun or hair drier. It gives the parts more time to swell. For this to be most effective, the parts should really seize up at first. 
> 
> That being said, heat does seem to be effective as well in some cases. But I would try that after the initial treatment has thoroughly dried.
> 
> This type of treatment is somewhat hit or miss. It's not very controllable. Sometimes it doesn't work as well as you would like, other times it works all too well! But, it can make a non-functioning piano playable again with very modest effort and damage to the clients checking account.
> 
> Ryan
> 
> On Sun, Jul 31, 2011 at 8:29 AM, David Weiss <davidweiss at embarqmail.com> wrote:
> I'm curious as to preferred methods  for water/alcohol treatment.  What ratio of water to alcohol, best method of application, and air drying versus drying with a heat  source?
> 
>  
> 
> David Weiss
> 
>  
> 
> From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Ryan Sowers
> Sent: Sunday, July 31, 2011 11:24 AM
> To: pianotech at ptg.org
> Subject: Re: [pianotech] Guess which pin...
> 
>  
> 
> I always go for the water/alcohol fix first, as well. A couple of treatments may work better than one. 
> 
> Ryan
> 
> On Sun, Jul 31, 2011 at 6:50 AM, Ron Nossaman <rnossaman at cox.net> wrote:
> 
> On 7/31/2011 7:25 AM, Tom Driscoll wrote:
> 
> Rob,
> Many of he Baldwin acros of the 60's -70's have chronic tight centers .
> My first test is to depress the left pedal , release quickly and watch
> for slow hammer return. Jacks centers can also be tight .I use the age
> old alc-water shrink-sizing method and it seems to provide a permanent
> fix. Give it overnight and test. Some use a hair dryer to speed things
> up but I'd rather see what the center will do on it's own. I then shoot
> some protek figuring it can't hurt to slick the center up.
> I realize that not every piano will respond ( I.E. center pin plating
> problem on the Samicks) but with this Kimball I would give it a try.
> It's easy ,cheap and will do no harm AND it might solve the problem.
> Just my take,
> Best wishes,
> 
>  
> 
> I agree. Given the quality and worth of the piano, this is a sane approach. Repinning the action is, I think, abusive to the owner if shrinking will get you there. And replacing parts (the action) in nominals like this is way way past cost prohibitive and far beyond sensible for any of my customers. I must need dumber richer customers. <G>
> 
> Ron N
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> Ryan Sowers, RPT
> Puget Sound Chapter
> Olympia, WA
> www.pianova.net
> 
> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> Ryan Sowers, RPT
> Puget Sound Chapter
> Olympia, WA
> www.pianova.net

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