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<DIV>In a message dated 11/2/2003 6:09:56 AM Pacific Standard Time, pianobui=
lders@olynet.com writes:</DIV>
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<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080>Personally I see=
no reason to put any kind of finish on the bridge cap at all. The graphite =
mixture was intended to make the bridge surface lubricous and allow the stri=
ng to render over it easily. Of course this theory ignored the bridge pins a=
nd the string offset. If the idea is to hermetically seal the bridge against=
water vapor it's going to take about 1 or 2 mm of epoxy. Nothing else will =
do. So, what's the point? Other than, perhaps, for looks. But no clear finis=
h known to man (or woman, and, believe me they use some finished men have ne=
ver heard of!) is going to stand up to the spot forces imposed by a taught s=
tring passing over it. So, use a nice hard wood and leave it alone. Or, if y=
ou must, spray on some kind of dry Teflon product and rub it down with some =
nicely.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080></FONT> </D=
IV>
<DIV dir=ltr><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080>Del</FONT></DIV>=
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<DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#000040 size=3><STRONG> &=
nbsp; I see the points you made but here's the ones you di=
dn't. </STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#000040 size=3><STRONG> &=
nbsp; If for nothing else it's way easier to clean off =
;the dust! A coating of (shellac or whatever) does slow absoption =
of R.H. &also slows the hygroscopic & potential staining/poluti=
ng effects of various kinds of fluids spilled in the piano ,enough so, that&=
nbsp; hopefully they can be cleaned up before they can have long t=
erm effect.</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#000040 size=3><STRONG> =
Bob Hofs article on bridge work sometime ago mentioned that considering=
the porousness of maple, the wicking in effect of shellac would seem, to my=
mind case harden the wood a bit as he suggests. I personally use shell=
ac in the notches as well with lacquer or varnish coats over that. Sure=
it's more than appearance but that's important too. Yes, I see that it=
won't completely seal it but think it still prudent to apply something=
. After all the inside of a grand piano has a certain aesthetic beauty which=
our customers comment on.</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#000040 size=3> =
Although graphite serves no functional purpose it does allow for visual refe=
rence of lines while laying out & cutting notches which is perhaps while=
it's always been done.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#000040 size=3> &=
nbsp; Are you applying nothing to the caps you install?</FONT></STRONG></DIV=
>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#000040 size=3> &=
nbsp; Regards-Dale</FONT></STRONG></DIV></BODY></HTML>