[pianotech] metro vac and blow (a little OT)

[Paul Williams]

Joe, I agree somewhat.  Most dust and dirt is what you breathe in every
day just walking around.  When we were all kids, we stuck dirt and
anything in our mouths, and I heard the other day (I believe on NPR) that
the over sanitation of our homes is actually harming the kids with their
lack of getting junk in their systems to build up their immune systems,
now, kids' systems aren't as strong. So...more sick kids which builds up
the bugs that float around.  I guess it's the chicken and egg argument in
a different sense.

The more we can suck out of a piano, though, the better, me thinks.  The
kids will find the dirt anywhere. So why not have a powerful 'sucker'?

I have one of the Metro-vacs now after using a 50 year old Electrolux with
both suck and blow.  It's nice, but tired.  The new one has 4hp!!  It
really works well. I never blow anything 'inside the home or professor
office" however.  I agree with the sanitizing cream crap for player's
fingers.  I suggest just going down the hall and washing your hands first!

Paul




On 6/18/12 1:58 PM, "Joseph Garrett" <joegarrett at earthlink.net> wrote:

>"Ron, et al,
>I've been using a Dyson DC30 for a couple of years now for in-home use.
>Very compact, strong vacuum with good size capacity.
>Unfortunately no blow function."
>
>IMO  that makes it worthless!
> I've been using a Hoover/Wards Vacuum for the last 39 years! It still
>does
>the job very well. Taking the bag out is a good idea, to get it to blow
>better, which is definately needed. I've carefully cleaned with the
>suction/brushes, etc., to the point of thinking: " I got it all", and then
>turned it on blow and found that I didtn't!<G>
>All this stuff about "the germs" is mostly B.S. imo. Our society's
>penchant
>for using hand sanitizers and all the other crap to keep from getting
>something is, imo,  a waste of time and money. (In a former life, I was an
>Isolation Expert in the Medical Field, in regards to Respitory systems,
>etc.) Our immune system takes care of the every day germs out there. Yes,
>we should be cautious, but not to the point of being paranoid! BTW, we
>should urge pianists to wash their hands, but not to use hand creams and
>sanitizers. The hand creams really screw up ivory and leave nasty crud on
>the key tops and sides. The sanitizers degrade plastic key tops, because
>they are almost pure alcohol. The rest of those have nasty gel substances
>and other goo that really slimes up the keys. Yuck! AND, while I'm at it,
>I
>wish all those plug in SMELL products would disappear! I'm allergic to
>most
>and have to tell clients to not use them 24 hours before I get there. Many
>clients over-do that, to the point of pure insanity! (The world ain't a
>damned rose garden!<G>)
>Just my take on all of that.
>Joe
>
>Joe Garrett, R.P.T.
>Captain of the Tool Police
>Squares R I
>
>