<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.3157" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY id=role_body style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #000000; FONT-FAMILY: Arial" bottomMargin=7 bgColor=#ffffff leftMargin=7 topMargin=7 rightMargin=7> <DIV><FONT size=3>Hi all,</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3>1.  Whilst working in China one old piano worker said they put beeswax into the lead when molten to ensure the lead doesn't oxidise.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3>2. When living in Darwin I shaved the leads on a piano then painted them. 5 years later I had to reshave some of them. Another 5 years passed and I replaced them, mended split keys and decided I should ham replaced them in the first place.</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3>3. Leads seem to grow, oxidise or whatever in just about every type or brand of piano. Have seen it in Feurichs, Yamahas, Seilers, American pianolas etc but not in the older Chinese pianos.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3>Tony Caught<BR>Australia<BR>0427 850 737<BR><A href="mailto:acaught@internode.on.net">acaught@internode.on.net</A><BR></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2> o----- Original Message ----- </FONT></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A title=Erwinspiano@aol.com href="mailto:Erwinspiano@aol.com">Erwinspiano@aol.com</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, September 25, 2007 1:53 AM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: Decomposing key leads</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV><FONT id=role_document face=Arial color=#000000> <DIV> <DIV>In  ALl</DIV> <DIV>  I'm currently rebuilding a Conover Model 88 grand that has the problem in both the key leads & underlevers leads. The Keys were full _O_ lead & growing a bit.  The underlevers are showing corrosionns with no visible spreading.  The available under levers will not work here unfortunately or I'd just replace. SO I'm considering what to do.  Keith Roberts said he thought it was impurities in the lead & not actual oxidation . Terry's comment about trimming were encouraging considiering he Lives in a damp invironment & is not seeing a problem after treatments of sorts.</DIV> <DIV>  Still the remedy for the under levers, is undecided.  The pianos is how old?  uh huh & it's not really a problem but ......mudle muddle,muddle.</DIV> <DIV>  What to do</DIV> <DIV>  Dale<FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial color=#000000></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"><FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial color=#000000> <DIV><FONT face=Tahoma>In this particular case the suggestions of some to coat the exterior of the leads may indeed reduce exposure chance. Also, if there is any worry about it, David Love's suggestion to just replace the leads and be done with it is certainly a valid solution - perhaps the best - it is really not a major job.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Tahoma></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Tahoma>Terry Farrell</FONT></DIV></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV> <DIV></DIV> <DIV> </DIV></FONT><BR><BR><BR> <DIV><FONT style="FONT: 10pt ARIAL, SAN-SERIF; COLOR: black"> <HR style="MARGIN-TOP: 10px"> See what's new at <A title=http://www.aol.com?NCID=AOLCMP00300000001170 href="http://www.aol.com?NCID=AOLCMP00300000001170" target=_blank>AOL.com</A> and <A title=http://www.aol.com/mksplash.adp?NCID=AOLCMP00300000001169 href="http://www.aol.com/mksplash.adp?NCID=AOLCMP00300000001169" target=_blank>Make AOL Your Homepage</A>.</FONT></DIV> <P> <HR> <P></P>No virus found in this incoming message.<BR>Checked by AVG Free Edition. <BR>Version: 7.5.488 / Virus Database: 269.13.30/1025 - Release Date: 9/23/2007 1:53 PM<BR></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>