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<DIV>should I presume that you have 88 little wedges for all the keys?</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Yes.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>This technique sounds like it might be even more focused than just soaking
the bushings.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>No big deal.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>I like the brass caul/soldering iron idea - I'll have to make a tip like
that for my soldering iron.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Pianotek sells them - "ironing cauls"</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Terry Farrell</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=akwright@btopenworld.com href="mailto:akwright@btopenworld.com">Allen
Wright</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=pianotech@ptg.org
href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">Pianotech List</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Friday, May 18, 2007 7:36 PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: how about? for damper
felts</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>oh yes, Terry, I've heard people mention this felt wedge
technique: so, should I presume that you have 88 little wedges for all the
keys? This technique sounds like it might be even more focused than just
soaking the bushings. I like the brass caul/soldering iron idea - I'll have to
make a tip like that for my soldering iron. Sounds like the cat's
meow...
<DIV><BR class=khtml-block-placeholder></DIV>
<DIV>Cheers,</DIV>
<DIV><BR class=khtml-block-placeholder></DIV>
<DIV>Allen Wright, RPT</DIV>
<DIV>London, UK
<DIV><BR class=khtml-block-placeholder></DIV>
<DIV><BR>
<DIV>
<DIV>On 19 May 2007, at 00:04, Farrell wrote:</DIV><BR
class=Apple-interchange-newline>
<BLOCKQUOTE type="cite"><SPAN class=Apple-style-span
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<DIV><FONT face=Arial><SPAN class=Apple-style-span
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">I've never tried wallpaper remover with water -
although I hear very good results are had with that combo. I have always
used denatured alcohol & water - about 50/50 on both damper felts and
key bushing felts. Once the felt has been wetted, one can switch to straight
water. The 50/50 initial ratio seems to not be critical at all. If hide glue
had been used, after several hours of soaking, felt simply falls off - no
cutting, tugging, scraping - no nothing - felt simply falls
off.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial><SPAN class=Apple-style-span
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">For white-type glue in key bushings, I have
soaked with alcohol/water overnight. I place small wedges of dense felt in
the mortise to hold moisture right at the key bushings. Then I hit each
bushing with a very quick application of a dedicated hot key bushing ironing
brass piece in the soldering iron. The quick blast of heat on the soaked
bushing gives the bushing glue a shot of steam and makes them all but
fall out. Unfortunately there remains some glue residue on the wood.
:-(</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT size=3><SPAN class=Apple-style-span
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">I wish it were a law to only used hot hide glue
on key bushings. Pa-foo-ee on anyone that doesn't.</SPAN></FONT><SPAN
class=Apple-style-span
style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </SPAN><FONT
size=5><STRONG
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 18px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
class=Apple-style-span
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 18px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">
;-)</SPAN></STRONG></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial><SPAN class=Apple-style-span
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Terry Farrell</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
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<DIV style="FONT: 13px arial"><SPAN class=Apple-style-span
style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; FONT-FAMILY: arial">----- Original Message
-----</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 13px arial; font-color: black"><SPAN
class=Apple-style-span
style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; FONT-FAMILY: arial"></SPAN> </DIV>While we're
on this subject - I just introduced the notion of using a damper felt
removal solution (diluted wallpaper remover and vinegar) rather than the
manly (or womanly) slicing off and sanding of old felts (the old-fashioned
method they've been using here), into the milieu of the Steinway London
Restoration Centre, where I've been working for the last few months.
Lightbulbs went on above heads when they realized how much time they won't
be wasting anymore if they incorporate this cheeky American technique : )
<DIV><BR class=khtml-block-placeholder></DIV>
<DIV>I've always figured that the ratios of the different ingredients were
not particularly crucial - just a well-diluted solution. Does anyone have
any comments on that? Is the vinegar really necessary? I think my solution
morphed over the years from one including alcohol-water-vinegar to the
present one, for vaguely remembered reasons....</DIV>
<DIV><BR class=khtml-block-placeholder></DIV>
<DIV>For keybushing removal here, they've been using pure "meths'", which
as far as i can tell is a mix of ethanol and methanol (yikes - isn't that
toxic?) and lots of tugging and slicing. I think the American solution
will be an improvement with that, as well.</DIV>
<DIV><BR class=khtml-block-placeholder></DIV>
<DIV>I know: steam and wet cloth works very well on key bushings also, but
that's probably a little too radical too present here. </DIV>
<DIV><BR class=khtml-block-placeholder></DIV>
<DIV>I'd be curious to hear if there are any other ideas on glue softening
solutions. This one works best with hide glue, naturally. Anybody have a
solution for white and other more stubborn glues?</DIV>
<DIV><BR class=khtml-block-placeholder></DIV>
<DIV>Sincerely, </DIV>
<DIV><BR class=khtml-block-placeholder></DIV>
<DIV>Allen Wright, RPT</DIV>
<DIV>London, UK</DIV></BLOCKQUOTE><BR
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