[CAUT] Grease/Oil on upright pressure bar

David Ilvedson ilvey@sbcglobal.net
Sat, 8 Oct 2005 9:14:55 -0700


How does one check the amount of bearing under the pressure bar and what should it be?

David Ilvedson, RPT
Pacifica, California


----- Original message ----------------------------------------
From: ed440@mindspring.com
To: "College and University Technicians" <caut@ptg.org>
Received: 10/8/2005 4:53:19 AM
Subject: RE: [CAUT] Grease/Oil on upright pressure bar


>Andrew:

>Your best chance of saving the current strings will probably be by loosening tension, 
>removing the pressure bars, and cleaning the bars and strings with rags and a solvent if 
>needed.  This will be less labor than trying to clean under the bars with q-tips and rags, 
>and more effective.  Be careful it does not migrate to the pinblock.

>Someone mentioned checking the amount of bearing under the pressure bar, and that 
>is good advice.

>It would be desireable to identify the lubricant before proceeding, and to have 
>records(photos and samples) in case it migrates and destroys the pianos.  Please be 
>sure the faculty knows that this looks serious, and that you are trying to save the 
>instruments.

>Some years ago I worked behind a self-trained technician who lubricated the bridge 
>tops with silicone paste.  As it migrated, it ruined all the bass strings.  No one in the 
>school thought it was odd, since all the pianos had thumping basses!  "We're just a 
>poor college with worn out pianos."

>Ed S.


>-----Original Message-----
>From: Andrew Anderson <andrew@andersonmusic.com>
>Sent: Oct 7, 2005 8:35 AM
>To: ilvey@sbcglobal.net, College and University Technicians <caut@ptg.org>
>Subject: RE: [CAUT] Grease/Oil on upright pressure bar

>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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