<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" = xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" = xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" = xmlns:st1="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" = xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"> <head> <META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; = charset=us-ascii"> <meta name=ProgId content=Word.Document> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 10"> <meta name=Originator content="Microsoft Word 10"> <link rel=File-List href="cid:filelist.xml@01C50122.027CDB20"> <o:SmartTagType = namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PersonName"/>  <style>  </style>  </head> <body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple = style='tab-interval:.5in' id="role_body" bottomMargin=7 leftmargin=7 topmargin=7 rightMargin=7> <div class=Section1> I wouldn’t = go that far.  But I would take the = trouble, at this point, to remove the action so that you can easily check the = centers and spoons.  While you have = the action disconnected from the keys you can also more easily check the key friction.  I’m = inclined to think that the spoons are the culprit.  When you are at the piano, push the pedal down and then play the = action top to bottom with very slow release.  If you get more sticking than = without the pedal down it may very well be the spoons.  Removing the action on a drop action spinet is a bit of a  pain but not that big a deal. Bring an action cradle so you can take it home if you = need to or comfortably work on it in her home.  If the spoons are corroded and/or have eaten a hole in the damper = lever felt, you will have to replace the felt and polish the spoons which = might be more easily done in the shop without someone looking over your = shoulder.  While the action is in the = cradle you can test action centers and more easily apply protech where you want it = without hosing.  <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <div> David Love <st1:PersonName>davidlovepianos@comcast.net</f= ont></st1:PersonName> = <o:p></o:p> </div> -----Original = Message----- From: = pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of Piannaman@aol.com Sent: Sunday, January 23, = 2005 7:26 AM To: pianotech@ptg.org Subject: Re: perpetually = sticking keys <o:p> </o:p> <div> <div> Tom,<o:p></o:p= > </div> <div>  <o:p></o= :p> </div> <div> I think I'd be inclined to give her the money back and bring the piano = back in to your workspace.  It may be a loss right up front, but in the end = you won't have the fear of that "I have a sticky key" phone call.  = If you can't afford to do that, check ALL of the centers.  = <o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o= :p> </div> <div> If jiffy leads can't sink those keys, there's SOMETHING weird going = on.<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o= :p> </div> <div> Dave Stahl<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o= :p> </div> <div> In a message dated 1/23/05 7:10:46 AM Pacific Standard Time, Tvak@aol.com = writes:<o:p></o:p> </div> <blockquote style='border:none;border-left:solid blue = 1.5pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 4.0pt; margin-left:3.75pt;margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'> I got in too deep this time.  I sold a little spinet piano last = month. I had replaced the damper felts, key bushings, and keytops.  I = included a free tuning and although there was no written guarantee, I promised her = that the piano was in good working order.  Which it was.  While the piano was in my posession, I did have ALOT of trouble getting = the keys eased so that they would return promptly.  Every time I went = out to the shop I'd find another key that wouldn't come back up, but I thought = I had them all taken care of.  And if she had any problems, I planned to = install lead weights on the back of the keys. Which I did, two weeks ago, when she called to tell me that there were a = couple of sticking keys.  With the weights installed, I figured that would = be the last I'd hear from her. Nope. She called yesterday with more sticking keys.  Now, it's winter = here in Chicago, the indoor climate is dry, compared to spring, which is only a = few months away.  If she's having problems now, oh boy. My question is: what the heck can I do next?  I've eased the keys = from here till Sunday.   I put the lead weights all the way at the = back of the key for maximum effect.  I polished the keypins and sprayed = them with TFL50. I don't know what to do next to get myself out of this = quagmire.  I want her to be satisfied with this instrument.  I want to stop = driving the 25 miles to her house. HELP!<o:p></o:p> </blockquote> </div> <div>  <o:p></o= :p> </div> </div> </body> </html>