<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; = charset=Windows-1252"> <META content="MSHTML 5.00.2314.1000" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=410013421-18122000>Marcel,</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=410013421-18122000>Getting the mildew off shouldn't be too = hard.  My suggestion, though, would be to ask a few questions of the = owner.....  Find out the history of the piano and the environment the piano has been = in.  Once the mildew is removed, if the cause hasn't been eliminated, you've = wasted your time.  I would recommend a Dampp-Chaser with a humidistat to = prevent a reoccurance.  I usually install a rod under the action and one 50 = watt under the board with the humidistat.  Once the piano is dry, mildew = shouldn't be an issue.  </SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=410013421-18122000></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial size=2><SPAN = class=410013421-18122000>For his nose, a room dehumidifier may be needed, but that's = OFF-TOPIC!!  </SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=410013421-18122000></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial size=2><SPAN = class=410013421-18122000>I have gotten some light grey mildew off by just wiping with a dry cloth, other = heavy black or green may be tougher.  I have used methanol on a cloth = before, the Methanol also helps the bushings.  You should need to ease all = bushings, balance rail holes, etc because of the humidity anyway.  Good luck = with it.  </SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=410013421-18122000></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial size=2><SPAN = class=410013421-18122000> <P><FONT size=2>Lance Lafargue, RPT<BR>Mandeville, LA<BR>New Orleans = Chapter, PTG<BR>lancelafargue@bellsouth.net</FONT> </P></SPAN></FONT></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV align=left class=OutlookMessageHeader dir=ltr><FONT = face=Tahoma size=2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> = owner-pianotech@ptg.org [mailto:owner-pianotech@ptg.org]<B>On Behalf Of </B>Marcel Carey<BR><B>Sent:</B> Monday, December 18, 2000 2:25 PM<BR><B>To:</B> pianotech<BR><B>Subject:</B> Mildew<BR><BR></DIV></FONT> <DIV><FONT size=2>Hi, </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>This morning I ran into a piano that is growing = mildew. The action backchecks and butts show the nasty stuff. I mentioned this to = the customer and she told me that her husband had 3 sinus operations and = his doctor told him they probably had mildew in the house. My question is:</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>Is there something to remove this nasty stuff. Is = there a chemical product that could be sprayed or brushed on the piano parts = to kill these mushrooms and prevent them to grow back? Would heath destroy = them? If yes what kind of temperature are we talking about?</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>Thanks for the help.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>Marcel</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>Marcel Carey, accordeur technicien<BR>(819) = 564-0447<BR><A = href="mailto:mcpiano@globetrotter.net">mcpiano@globetrotter.net</A></FO= NT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>