<html> <body> I don't get what's going on.  I sent the first post with the current subject on 11/21.  The next post to that thread that I received was this: <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">Date: Fri, 25 Nov 2011 08:49:42 -0500 From: richarducci@comcast.net Subject: Re: [pianotech] piano behavior - shrinking with H20 & alcohol Sender: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org To: "pianotech@ptg.org" <pianotech@ptg.org> R What is the ratio of water to alcohol ? Rick Ucci <a href="http://Uccipiano.com">Uccipiano.com</a> On Nov 22, 2011, at 9:42 AM, <a href="mailto:chrisstor@aol.com">chrisstor@aol.com</a> wrote: <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">Tom et al,   The gas line antifreeze "Heet" is methyl alcohol. <a href="http://www.goldeagle.com/brands/heet/default.aspx"> http://www.goldeagle.com/brands/heet/default.aspx</a>   The MSDS information is here, indicating that it's methyl alcohol with apparently no other proprietary ingredients: <a href="http://www.imperialsupplies.com/msds0055060.shtml"> http://www.imperialsupplies.com/msds0055060.shtml</a>   The advantage of methyl alcohol is that it evaporates quickly, allowing you to do the center pin bushing sizing procedure with less time spent waiting for the centers to free up.  But the corresponding disadvantage is its flash point.  Probably not a smart idea to use a heat gun to hasten the drying process with methyl.   Chris Storch</blockquote></blockquote> except, I never got Chris Storch's email.  Don't know if there were others equally misdirected. First of all, apart from flammability, methanol is highly toxic and to be avoided, especially when working in an enclosed environment.  Then, Tom said: <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">Rick,  I use denatured alc mixed 50 -50 with water.  Tom D.</blockquote> There's this from WikiP: <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite=""><h3>Grades of ethanol</h3> <h4> [<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki//w/index.php?title=Ethanol&action=edit&section=11"> edit</a>] Denatured alcohol</h4> Main article: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki//wiki/Denatured_alcohol">Denatured alcohol</a> Denaturing alcohol does not <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki//wiki/Chemical_structure"> chemically</a> alter the ethanol molecule. Rather, the ethanol is mixed with other chemicals to form an undrinkable solution. Pure ethanol and alcoholic beverages are heavily taxed, but ethanol has many uses that do not involve consumption by humans. To relieve the tax burden on these uses, most jurisdictions waive the tax when an agent has been added to the ethanol to render it unfit to drink. These include <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki//wiki/Bitterant">bittering agents</a> such as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki//wiki/Denatonium_benzoate"> denatonium benzoate</a> and toxins such as methanol, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki//wiki/Naphtha">naphtha</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki//wiki/Pyridine">pyridine</a>. Products of this kind are called denatured alcohol.<a href="#cite_note-39">[40]</a><a href="#cite_note-40"> [41]</a> <h4> [<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki//w/index.php?title=Ethanol&action=edit&section=12"> edit</a>] Absolute ethanol</h4> Absolute or anhydrous alcohol refers to ethanol with a low water content. There are various grades with maximum water contents ranging from 1% to ppm levels. Absolute alcohol is not intended for human consumption. If <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki//wiki/Azeotropic_distillation"> azeotropic distillation</a> is used to remove water, it will contain trace amounts of the material separation agent (e.g. benzene).<a href="#cite_note-41">[42]</a> Absolute ethanol is used as a solvent for laboratory and industrial applications, where water will react with other chemicals, and as fuel alcohol. Spectroscopic ethanol is an absolute ethanol with a low absorbance in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki//wiki/Ultraviolet">ultraviolet</a> and visible light, fit for use as a solvent in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki//wiki/Ultraviolet-visible_spectroscopy"> ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy</a>.<a href="#cite_note-42">[43]</a> Pure ethanol is classed as 200 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki//wiki/Proof_(alcohol)">proof</a> in the USA, equivalent to 175 degrees proof in the UK system.<a href="#cite_note-43">[44]</a></blockquote> So when Tom says he's using denatured alcohol 50-50 with water, there's probably more water than he thinks. Which still brings me back to the question I first asked: <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">How do you know it's a case for shrinking?  Have you tried naptha and exercising the part (taken off the rail)?  I know there's the issue of retaining proper alignment, but I wonder what your experience has been in controlling the amount of shrinkage. </blockquote> Let's see what happens to our venerable list this time. David Skolnik  RPT Hastings on Hudson, NY H </body> </html>