<font color='black' size='2' face='Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif'> <div></div> <div style="color: black; font-family: arial,helvetica; font-size: 10pt;"><blockquote style="padding-left: 3px; border-left-color: blue; border-left-width: 2px; border-left-style: solid;"> <div><font size="2" face="Arial">Termites...from what I understand, can't live without moisture so they set up camp in areas where they can return to the ground pretty easily for moisture. Without that, they would likely vacate the area in search of moisture.  I'm open to correction on that if I'm wrong, but that's what I thought I learned at some point. </font></div> <div><font size="2" face="Arial"></font> </div> </blockquote></div> <div> </div> <div>Richard</div> <div> </div> <div>Tropical termites are not the same as the ones found in the Midwest. Tropical termites are not restricted to living underground or inside wood. They swarm and fly and get into anything they want to. That is why they are found in furniture, including pianos. The telltale sign of termites is saw dust in small piles where they have entered the wood. Just yesterday I saw this sawdust on the keybed of a small grand piano in a church. It doesn't take long for them to set up house inside a piano. I had a piano on my lanai, (porch) and termites got into it after it sat out there for only a week. </div> <div> </div> <div>BTW, I meant to say "treated", not "tested". The termite industry is a multi billion dollar business here in Hawaii. House are tented constantly, (our house was tented before we moved in 4 years ago, but we are asking our landlord to do it again, because we see signs of termites, not to mention other bugs). Furniture is also treated putting in a room and "bombing" it.</div> <div> </div> <div>Wim</div> <div></div> <div style="clear: both;"> <div> </div> </div> <div></div> <div></div> <div style="color: black; font-family: arial,helvetica; font-size: 10pt;">-----Original Message-----<br> From: Richard W. Bushey <rbushey4@embarqmail.com><br> To: pianotech <pianotech@ptg.org><br> Sent: Sat, Oct 27, 2012 1:23 pm<br> Subject: Re: [pianotech] Opinion on Termite Damaged Piano Requested<br> <br> <div id="AOLMsgPart_1_f8929d29-fecd-4e20-801a-8cbaef3ecb42"> <div><font size="2" face="Arial">Wim,</font></div> <div><font size="2" face="Arial"></font> </div> <div><font size="2" face="Arial">The customer (military) bought it from another family here in Waynesville who I assume was also military.  So, the current family I'm sure did not have it tested and don't know about the former family who owned it.  As I mentioned before, a previous technician...(the name escapes me and didn't write it down) in Hawaii noted that an ant colony was "exterminated", whatever that means....and whatever method he used I don't know.  "Tested" for termites, I doubt.</font></div> <div><font size="2" face="Arial"></font> </div> <div><font size="2" face="Arial">I'm assuming the damage was from Hawaii but that's what's confusing me, the tech notes, if I remember correctly, said ant colony...so now I'm confused. I was assuming that his notes were related to this damage, but I guess not necessarily.  Hmmm.</font></div> <div><font size="2" face="Arial"></font> </div> <div><font size="2" face="Arial">Like Ron suggested, I'm not sure how you test for termites.  I guess the customer was in effect asking me to do that. She left it on the carport, on it's back and took the bottom board off herself before she called me.  I guess she wanted me to wave my magic wand over it and pronounce it clean...so I did.  Hope it is!  If not, I'll find a way to round them up, and send them back to Wim in Hawaii where they belong.  I'll be sure not to use UPS as I want to be sure they arrive safe and sound! : )</font></div> <div><font size="2" face="Arial"></font> </div> <div><font size="2" face="Arial">I do imagine that the piano is clear of them after that amount of time, though, assuming the damage was from Hawaii. The wood was very dry (if they're addracted to moist wood), and no evidence of them in the wood, (wings, other parts, etc.).  The bottom board was made in my shop then installed in the home, so it's already "home". Termites...from what I understand, can't live without moisture so they set up camp in areas where they can return to the ground pretty easily for moisture. Without that, they would likely vacate the area in search of moisture.  I'm open to correction on that if I'm wrong, but that's what I thought I learned at some point.  </font></div> <div><font size="2" face="Arial"></font> </div> <div><font size="2" face="Arial"></font> </div> <div><font size="2" face="Arial"></font> </div> <div>Richard W. Bushey<br> Richard's Piano Service<br> <a href="http://www.RichardsPianoService.com" target="_blank">www.RichardsPianoService.com</a><br> <a href="mailto:Rbushey@RichardsPianoService.com">Rbushey@RichardsPianoService.com</a><br> 573-765-9903</div> <blockquote style="padding-right: 0px; padding-left: 5px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 5px; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-width: 2px; border-left-style: solid;" dir="ltr"> <div style="font: 10pt/normal arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;">----- Original Message ----- </div> <div style="background: rgb(228, 228, 228); font: 10pt/normal arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-color: black;"><b>From:</b> <a title="tnrwim@aol.com" href="mailto:tnrwim@aol.com">tnrwim@aol.com</a> </div> <div style="font: 10pt/normal arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><b>To:</b> <a title="pianotech@ptg.org" href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</a> </div> <div style="font: 10pt/normal arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><b>Sent:</b> Friday, October 26, 2012 10:34 PM</div> <div style="font: 10pt/normal arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><b>Subject:</b> Re: [pianotech] Opinion on Termite Damaged Piano Requested</div> <div><br> </div> <div>Richard. </div> <div><br> </div> <div>This piano had termite damage. I see this kind of damage a lot. Did you ask the customer of the piano was tested before they left Hawaii?  If not it would be a good idea to have that done before returning the piano to them. They need to pay for that. Here the mover charges for both moves and the treatment but I get a little discount for the second move. </div> <div><br> </div> <div>Carpenter Ants, on the other hand, are a different matter. They don't eat the wood, but leave a black tar substance that is very hard to remove. I have to use a chisel and rag to remove it from keys and key beds or any other surface </div> <div><br> </div> <div>Wim<br> <br> Sent from my iPhone</div> <div><br> On Oct 26, 2012, at 3:52 PM, "Richard W. Bushey" <<a href="mailto:rbushey4@embarqmail.com">rbushey4@embarqmail.com</a>> wrote:<br> <br> </div> <blockquote type="cite"> <div> <div><font size="2" face="Arial">Termites or Carpenter Ants? Since pianos from Hawaii and termite damage was brought up, thought I'd share some pics with you.  Just replaced the bottom board of this piano just 2 weeks ago.  Had ant (or termite) damage back in 2004 and the piano did come from Hawaii.  I'm thinking I saw something in the tecnician's notes about an ant colony that was exterminated in 2004.  I service Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo. and this was from a military family who must have been stationed in Hawaii at some point.</font></div> <div><font size="2" face="Arial"></font> </div> <div><font size="2" face="Arial">Anyway, I'm really not sure how they used the piano from then til now, but the pedals were sure in unuseable condition when I found them.  </font></div> <div><font size="2" face="Arial"></font> </div> <div><font size="2" face="Arial">Tilted on it's back, and the bottom board off, there was no evidence of damage in the main case at all, only the bottom board.  Why, don't know, but I guess they were very lucky.  I inspected the entire piano and saw no evidence of them anywhere else and the piano tuned very well. Boy was I glad.  Those critters can sure do alot of damage in a short amount of time!  If the damage had been more extensive, I'd likely walked away from the job, but it looked pretty contained.</font></div> <div><font size="2" face="Arial"></font> </div> <div><font size="2" face="Arial">The pics are in no order, and some who like to look at things really close will be bothered by the fact that in the tilted picture the pedals don't look right, that's because they weren't hooked up yet.  Same with one of the pics on the table saw.</font></div> <div><font size="2" face="Arial"></font> </div> <div><font size="2" face="Arial">Always interesting things to find in this profession.  Keeps life exciting!</font></div> <div><font size="2" face="Arial"></font> </div> <div><font size="2" face="Arial"></font> </div> <div>Richard W. Bushey<br> Richard's Piano Service<br> <a href="http://www.RichardsPianoService.com" target="_blank">www.RichardsPianoService.com</a><br> <a href="mailto:Rbushey@RichardsPianoService.com">Rbushey@RichardsPianoService.com</a><br> 573-765-9903</div> <div> </div> <div><font size="2" face="Arial"></font> </div> <div><font size="2" face="Arial"></font> </div> <blockquote style="padding-right: 0px; padding-left: 5px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 5px; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-width: 2px; border-left-style: solid;" dir="ltr"> <div style="font: 10pt/normal arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;">----- Original Message ----- </div> <div style="background: rgb(228, 228, 228); font: 10pt/normal arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-color: black;"><b>From:</b> <a title="pwilliams4@unl.edu" href="mailto:pwilliams4@unl.edu">Paul Williams</a> </div> <div style="font: 10pt/normal arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><b>To:</b> <a title="pianotech@ptg.org" href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</a> </div> <div style="font: 10pt/normal arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><b>Sent:</b> Friday, October 26, 2012 5:14 PM</div> <div style="font: 10pt/normal arial; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><b>Subject:</b> Re: [pianotech] Opinion on Termite Damaged Piano Requested</div> <div><br> </div> <div>Open one can of worms…then 10 others rear their heads!  Sounds like Halloowweeeeenn!  Be very careful on this one, buddy! Really a  keyframe?  Sounds pretty scary! </div> <div><br> </div> <div>Maybe or maybe not. I guess a visit first is in order. It might be worth the visit to like or take the job, or run run as fast as you can.  You never know.  Never take a job on over the phone DAMHIK!!!!</div> <div><br> </div> <div>To Wim,  I would say run away from it. Termites are damage.  They go into everything! Can't even see the extra damage yet until you pull the plate, etc.  You should know by now in the land we all like to vacation in! Ahhhh….Hawaii!  For the next 6 months, I would love to be there…..Winter's coming in soon buddy!  Celebrating 37 today as a high temp!   Have to put my Keen's away for the winter and I hate that!</div> <div><br> </div> <div><br> </div> <div>Paul</div> <div><br> </div> <div><br> </div> <span id="OLK_SRC_BODY_SECTION"> <div style="border-width: 1pt medium medium; border-style: solid none none; border-color: rgb(181, 196, 223) currentColor currentColor; padding: 3pt 0in 0in; text-align: left; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">From: </span>Terry Farrell <<a href="mailto:mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com">mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com</a>><br> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Reply-To: </span>"<a href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</a>" <<a href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</a>><br> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Date: </span>Friday, October 26, 2012 5:00 PM<br> <span style="font-weight: bold;">To: </span>"<a href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</a>" <<a href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</a>><br> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Subject: </span>Re: [pianotech] Opinion on Termite Damaged Piano Requested<br> </div> <div><br> </div> <div> <div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space;">This isn't my piano - but rather a potential client's who may have me do a belly job on it. He is aware that the keyframe is all chewed up. He has made arrangements for a new keyframe (<font class="Apple-style-span" color="#ff0018">AHHH!!!</font>). <div><br> </div> <div>One thing I do know is that there CAN be major problems. Like a Knabe 6' (or so) grand that I used to service at a hospital. I told them the thing was termite infested. But they didn't do anything about it until one morning when they came to work and found the piano down on the floor (as in not on its legs). The termites had eaten the keybed and the legs broke off.</div> <div><br> </div> <div>Terry Farrell</div> <div><br> <div> <div>On Oct 26, 2012, at 5:04 PM, <a href="mailto:tnrwim@aol.com">tnrwim@aol.com</a> wrote:</div> <br class="Apple-interchange-newline"> <blockquote type="cite"> <div>Terry<br> <br> How much are you going to in the rebuilding process?  I recently rebuilt a Baldwin F because it was in a fire. But it also had considerable termite damage, especially on the action frame. So be sure to pull the action and check for termite damage, (remove the stack and take off the keys). Other than that you shouldn't have any problems<br> <br> Wim<br> <br> Sent from my iPhone<br> <br> On Oct 26, 2012, at 10:47 AM, Terry Farrell <<a href="mailto:mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com">mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com</a>> wrote:<br> <br> <blockquote type="cite">I'm looking for some opinions on the wisdom of rebuilding a 9' Knabe concert grand that has some termite damage. A client of mine owns the piano. I have my own opinion. I'm just wondering what others experience may have taught them.<br> </blockquote> <blockquote type="cite"><br> </blockquote> <blockquote type="cite">There appears to be relatively minor damage in several areas of the piano: rim braces, rim, keybed, etc. One can find only one or two smallish galleries in these areas.<br> </blockquote> <blockquote type="cite"><br> </blockquote> <blockquote type="cite">IMHO, one would have to pretty much destroy much of the piano to be sure about how much damage there might be.<br> </blockquote> <blockquote type="cite"><br> </blockquote> <blockquote type="cite">Presumably the termite activity is not active. The piano was shipped to a fumagation facility and it was gassed in their fumagation chamber. Then the piano was moved back to the home and then the entire home was tented and fumagated. So, I can only assume that if fumagation does indeed work, any termites that were in there are all dead.<br> </blockquote> <blockquote type="cite"><br> </blockquote> <blockquote type="cite">Thoughts?<br> </blockquote> <blockquote type="cite"><br> </blockquote> <blockquote type="cite">Thanks.<br> </blockquote> <blockquote type="cite"><br> </blockquote> <blockquote type="cite">Terry Farrell<br> </blockquote></div> </blockquote></div> <br> </div> </div> </div> </span></blockquote><br> <hr> I am using the Free version of <a href="http://www.spamfighter.com/len" target="_blank">SPAMfighter</a>.<br> SPAMfighter has removed 1022 of my spam emails to date.<br> <br> Do you have a <a href="http://www.spamfighter.com/SLOW-PCfighter?cid=sigen" target="_blank">slow PC?</a> Try free scan! </div> </blockquote> <blockquote type="cite"> <div><102_7396.JPG></div> </blockquote> <blockquote type="cite"> <div><102_7397.JPG></div> </blockquote> <blockquote type="cite"> <div><102_7414.JPG></div> </blockquote> <blockquote type="cite"> <div><Ants or termites destroyed pedal mou.JPG></div> </blockquote> <blockquote type="cite"> <div><Ants or Termites ruin piano bottom b.JPG></div> </blockquote> <blockquote type="cite"> <div><Bottom board installed.JPG></div> </blockquote> <blockquote type="cite"> <div><Polished pedals on new bottom board.JPG></div> </blockquote></blockquote> </div>  </div> </font>