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<DIV><FONT size=2>Does cigarette smoke have the same corrosive
properties?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>What is the substance of choice to clean the smoke =
smell from
unfinished wood?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>David Love</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; =
BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: =
black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=Wimblees@AOL.COM =
href="mailto:Wimblees@AOL.COM">Wimblees@AOL.COM</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A =
title=pianotech@ptg.org
href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> September 03, 2002 6:21 =
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: smoke damage</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV><FONT face=arial,helvetica><FONT size=2>In a =
message dated
9/2/02 7:20:44 PM Central Daylight Time, <A
href="mailto:wayne.hohle@sympatico.ca">wayne.hohle@sympatico.ca</A> =
writes:
<BR><BR><BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px =
solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"
TYPE="CITE">hi list <BR>i tried and failed to get info from the =
archieves
today about smoke <BR>damage to pianos so i hoped you might =
respond..
<BR>a customer had a small fire in the kitchen that generated enough =
smoke
<BR>and soot to thoroughly cover the piano. there is plenty of soot =
inside
<BR>the piano and sticky smoke all over it inside and out as the lid =
was up.
<BR><BR>apparently the fire was small and not a lot of heat reached =
the
piano. <BR><BR>what is the best approach to cleaning this up =
<BR><BR>thanks
<BR>wayne <BR><BR></BLOCKQUOTE><BR><BR>Wayne <BR><BR>This has been =
brought up
a couple of times, but I'll answer again. Soot is a corrosive, and =
will
eventually damage the strings. If it is only smoke and soot damage, =
all the
parts need to be thoroughly cleaned. However, you cannot get soot and =
smoke
out of felts, so they need to be replaced. Also, soot will get under =
the
strings, especially at the pressure points, like the bridge and hitch =
pins,
agraffs. And, as I said, it will penetrate felts, especially the =
understring
felts. <BR><BR>While the damage might not look extensive, the only =
correct way
to clean the piano is to replace all the felts, like hammers, flange =
bushings,
front and balance rail bushings, etc., and all the strings. In other =
words,
almost a complete rebuild. <BR><BR>I know the insurance company isn't =
going to
like it, but be sure to put in writing your findings, so the owners =
have
something to go by when they sue the insurance company. <BR><BR>Wim
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