<html> <head> <META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; = charset=us-ascii"> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 10 (filtered)"> <style>  </style> </head> <body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple> <div class=Section1> My experience is that the dehumidifier is for prevention, = not for cure of an existing problem.    My suggestion is = to remove the action and find out where the excess friction is coming from. =  I had a very sluggish action that I removed from a piano and kept in the = back of my truck (sunny San Diego) to dry out.  After a few weeks, it was = as good as new. This may not be practical for you, so you could also build a = drying box with some dampchasers inside, or lamps, for heat, and dry the action in it.  Gentle heat over a longer time is better than higher heat for = shorter time.  If the action has been in humid conditions for an extended = period, even drying it may not cure the sluggishness.  Putting Protek = on the action centers and working the parts back and forth may polish the = centerpins  enough to remove corrosion from the pins.  Otherwise repinning may = be necessary. Sometimes the = felt on the damper becomes cupped where the spoons contact it.  Corrosion on = the spoons sometimes digs holes in the felt.  You will have to look carefully = from underneath the action to see this.  Lift the damper away from the = spoon, or remove it.  The felt may not be durable enough, and replacement = would be necessary.  Be sure to polish the spoons if this is the = case. Of course, = I’m assuming that your keys are not swollen.  Besides easing the key = bushings, size the balance holes too.  And check the keypins for corrosion at = the bottom of the pins.  Moisture collects there and corrodes = them. Hope this = helps.   &nbsp= ;         Paul McCloud   &nbsp= ;         San Diego -----Original = Message----- From: = pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of Alpha88x@aol.com Sent: Saturday, December 20, 2003 8:32 PM To: pianotech@ptg.org Subject: slow returning = hammers   Greetings,             I = went to a home where there was a Chickering console piano that the hammers return = at a snail's pace after the key is struck. I suggested that the hammer = bushings around their center pins may be swelled due to humidity resulting in = tightness and friction causing the slow motion return.  He had a heater bar = in the piano and I suggested that he plug it in to dry up some moisture. He = did. Two weeks later he calls and tells me it only helped allittle and the thing = is still unplayable.              = I am thinking that the only thing left to do is to bring the action home and = put it near a radiator so they dry out, and give each pin a shot of protek. Any = other suggestions? thanks, Julia Gottchall, Reading, PA </div> </body> </html>