[CAUT] glue sizing bushings

[Fred Sturm]

Hi Wim,
    Yes, steam-sizing bushings is a standard procedure for some of us. I
wrote about it a few years back, and there was a bit of discussion - check
the archives. Me, I like to put keys in a pair of Spurlock's clamps, steam a
set at a time (meaning half the BR, half the FR) using a travel steam iron
(which emits steam through a hole) until the bushings swell "about right"
(not enough to come loose). Then I follow with Pianoteck's precision brass
cauls in a heat-controlled soldering iron (the parallel sided ones, not the
tapered). Two quick passes with the caul rather than one long one: I don't
want to encourage the glue to be liquid and move into the felt. Each pass
with the caul is a bit less than one second per bushing - go through each
key, then back through.
    Others like to insert the nylon cauls in the whole set and then apply
steam and wait overnight to dry and set.

Regards,
Fred Sturm
University of New Mexico


On 10/19/06 11:34 AM, "Willem Blees" <wblees at bama.ua.edu> wrote:

> David
> 
> I did write it wrong. I'm not glue sizing. I'm "steam" sizing. I steam
> the bushings, then put in the cauls. Sorry for the confusion.
> 
> Wim 
> 
> 
> Quoting David Skolnik <davidskolnik at optonline.net>:
> 
>> Wim -
>> Am I misreading this?  You want to glue-size the key bushings? I
>> could see maybe non-glue sizing, with just final cauls.  I'd be
>> concerned with stiffening the cloth and the ensuing noise.  My
>> thought.
>> 
>> David Skolnik
>> 
>> 
>> At 10:25 AM 10/19/2006, you wrote:
>>> To remove front and balance rail bushings I use an iron and cloth
>> and
>>> steam them out. This morning I started doing this on a front set,
>>> which I had replaced several years ago, but I noticed that they
>>> weren't all that worn out. So instead of removing the felt, I glue
>>> sized them with the final cauls.
>>> 
>>> Have any of you done this? Results? Are there reasons I shouldn't
>> do
>>> this? Certainly saved a lot of time, not to mention bushing cloth
>>> 
>>> Wim
>>> Willem Blees, RPT
>>> Piano Tuner/Technician
>>> School of Music
>>> University of Alabama
>>> Tuscaloosa, AL USA
>> 
>> 
> 
> 
> Willem Blees, RPT
> Piano Tuner/Technician
> School of Music
> University of Alabama
> Tuscaloosa, AL USA
> 
>