[CAUT] Grease/Oil on upright pressure bar

[Andrew Anderson]

Most do have evidence of lubricant to a greater or lesser 
degree.  The one that was the worst, so far, had terrible unisons 
when I got to it. (I think the lubricant got all the way to the 
bridge in the treble.)

The pin block is tight, the pins are "springy".  The average humidity 
is 60% Rh right now.  In Laredo there aren't any mountains between us 
and the cost so it doesn't get terribly dry 
relative-humidity-wise.   Think south-Texas.

So, this is a foreign substance.  What is the least damaging way to 
get it out?  I've mentally debated trickling various solvents down 
the wires over the bar into a rag below.  I don't like that 
idea.  Another that came to mind is using the heat gun to mobilize it 
with heat and forced air out of that position.  That also has its 
drawbacks, maybe less so than the first idea.  Anyone have tested 
ideas or want to hazard some opinions?

PRN =/= as needed
TAMIU = Texas A & M International University

Andrew Anderson


At 07:59 PM 10/6/2005, you wrote:
>Sorry for my ignorance but explain:   PRN?   TAMIU?   If all of the 
>Bostons, or majority of them have this stuff...sounds like someone 
>lubed them.   The factory isn't going put something in the piano 
>that attracts dust/dirt.   These are basically Kawais.   You could 
>have dried out pinblocks...Texas.   Seems to me Avery can talk you 
>through this...
>
>David I.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>----- Original message ----------------------------------------
>From: "Andrew Anderson" <andrew@andersonmusic.com>
>To: "College and University Technicians" <caut@ptg.org>
>Received: 10/6/2005 5:24:07 PM
>Subject: [CAUT] Grease/Oil on upright pressure bar
>
>
> >Hi,
> >I'm tuning on a PRN basis for TAMIU here in Laredo.  They finally
> >decided their black cages full of warbling songbirds and howling
> >seals needed a little discipline.  (The grands are better, 50 to 80
> >cents sharp on the top octave though, every piano.)
>
> >They have a bunch of Boston uprights (UP-125 II)  that are proving
> >quite annoying.  There is very little discernable friction between
> >the tuning pin and the speaking portion of the wire.  I got
> >suspicious, went to the restroom and got some white paper.  Swiped
> >the wires, yellow stuff, swiped the underside of the pressure bar,
> >more yellow stuff.  Not very thick, but collecting dust anyway.  When
> >I massaged the wires with the beat suppressor after the first pitch
> >correction pass I noticed that the wires were collecting a little
> >dust too, sticky. ... These are fairly new pianos, couple years at most.
>
> >When I say low-friction, I mean I can put my little hammer vertical
> >on a pin and walk a unison above and below tune without stressing my pinky.
>
> >Is this normal?  Making unisons stable is a bit of a chore.  No
> >wonder they were warbling & howling.  Do they come from the factory
> >this way? or did one of the past piana toonas oil everything up?
>
> >Over lubricated in Laredo,
> >Andrew
>
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