<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <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 bgcolor=white lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=blue> <div class=Section1>     -----Original = Message----- From: = pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of Elwood Doss, Jr. Sent: Sunday, December 21, 2003 12:12 = AM To: Pianotech Subject: Re: slow = returning hammers   <div> How about a mixture of wood = alcohol and water to cause the bushing to swell, thereby loosening the = pin?  Might work. </div> <div>   </div> <div> Once the action is dried = out, what's to prevent the moisture coming back and the action centers becoming = sluggish again? </div> <div>   </div> <div> Joy! </div> <div> Elwood </div> <div>   </div> <div> Elwood Doss, = Jr.       =             =       Elwood,       =       This is a well established technique. The pin is not affected. The bushing = cloth made of wool changes dimensionally after the water saturates the fibers = and dries. Years ago I read a journal article describing exactly what = happens to the cloth during this process .I could dig the article up to refresh my = memory, but suffice it to say that a tight center will usually become free after = treatment. Many Baldwin Acrosonics from the 60’s have tight centers that = respond to the Alcohol. - Water treatment.       =       As to the second part of your query: Yes. The action will continue to be = affected by humidity, but even without climate control, a piano action should = remain playable even in high humidity environments. In my experience the = problem generally will not return especially with a protect application (if = necessary) after every thing dries out.       =       Its important to check that the centers don’t become too loose so = don’t lubricate if not required. Gram resistance can be measured or use a = swing test of the part (I look for around seven swings of the hammer) =       =       The archives are loaded with different formulae, but I’ve had success = with very cheap vodka-       =       Only be careful---I once left the bottle on the bench when a client came into = the shop. OOOPS!       =       Tom Driscoll RPT       =       </div> <div>   </div> </div> </body> </html>