Touch weight

Jim Busby jim_busby@byu.edu
Fri, 19 Dec 2003 13:08:38 -0700


All,

One great advantage to the methanol is it is instantaneous. (No "drying
time") Protek can also give varying results. When it dries the parts may
even be worse than before. (rarely, but it can happen if the parts are
older or corroded)

Although a couple months ago I had a call to tune a B for one of the
Julliard pianist visiting a small town and all the flanges were 0 - 1
swings! Of course they called me 2 hours before the performance
(!*^#@!!) and there was NO aftertouch, etc. They didn't even know how
many years it had been since the last tuning. I decided to Protek them
(clp). While I pitch raised and tuned they loosened up to 4-5 swings for
the most part. After quickly raising the hammerline and doing some other
quick voodoo to get the best regulation within the 30 minutes I had
left, the fellow came, played, and said he liked it... The next day the
flanges were still at 4-5!! A week later I checked, out of curiosity,
and they were still good. Go figure. 

Jim Busby

-----Original Message-----
From: caut-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of
Fred Sturm
Sent: Friday, December 19, 2003 8:11 AM
To: College and University Technicians
Subject: Re: Touch weight



--On Friday, December 19, 2003 9:54 AM -0500 Wimblees@aol.com wrote:
>
> I was going to work on the keys first, making sure they are free of
any
> friction. I was going to spray Teflon on the balance rail at both the
top
> and bottom, and spray the front bushing cloths. If there is still some
> friction, carefully ease the bushings. Next I was going to spray the
> wippen cushions. Last I was going to check hammer flange pinning. I do
> this by setting the action on a cradle, and doing the swing test,
trying
> to get all the hammers to swing evenly.
> I have, in the past, repinned those that were not giving me at least 5
> swings. I have, on occasion, used protek to loosen up the pinning. But
> now you say I should use small amounts o methanol, instead of protek.
> What is the difference, and why?
> Wim

Wim,
	The Steinway "Permafree II" action centers are impregnated with
a teflon 
solution, which lubricates and provides additional firmness. We had
quite a 
bit of discussion of this over the past couple months, with respect to 
firmness versus friction.
	No other manufacturer uses this method. Most others are pure, 
"unadulterated" felt, some have graphite applied to one surface. All
others 
will respond to lubrication with Protek, and/or to shrinking/sizing with

alcohol/water. Steinway will not respond to either, due to that 
impregnation with teflon. Pure methanol, a controlled substance, is 
available (at least in colder climes) as gas line "de-freezer." Eric 
Schandall says he thinks ethanol will work as well.
Regards,
Fred Sturm
University of New Mexico


_______________________________________________
caut list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives

This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC