[CAUT] Which S&S replacement action parts?

[Fred Sturm]

Hi Chris,
	Yep, I have the same problem. Nope, I don't have an answer or a  
procedure. It is definitely different to work with. The first thing  
that really puzzled me was when I found that I could remove a pin, and  
the same size pin would feel tight enough or even too tight (pushing  
it into the felt by hand). So I tried reinserting the same pin  
(Steinway pin, with the rounded edges). And, sure enough, the friction  
had gone from 0 - 2 gm to 4 gm. Just removing and replacing it. I  
guess the felt/teflon expanded while the pin was out. The friction  
level went back to 0 - 2 gm overnight.
	So what do I do? Mostly, they seem to stay firm (feeling the end of  
the hammer for wobble) for a good long time. If I get wobble, I repin  
with the next larger size. I ignore friction measurements, as long as  
it swings freely enough. Firm by feel and swing free is my only  
parameter. I won't say I am comfortable with this exactly, but I find  
I can regulate to the low friction okay (over the years I have got  
pretty good with butterfly springs). I like it better than the solid  
teflon, which always had/has too much friction if I just ream with the  
prescribed size reamer, and too little friction if I use an  
intermediate (.0005 above pin size as oppose to pin size to the .001).
	I'm just out there trying to make things work, and it seems like it's  
easier to go with the flow than to fight it. And it seems to work  
okay. So I have tried to alter my "inner imagination" to conform with  
it.
Regards,
Fred Sturm
University of New Mexico
fssturm at unm.edu



On Jun 26, 2008, at 8:41 PM, Chris Solliday wrote:

> Fred, I have problems when reaming (hard to imagine that some need  
> it with
> free and firm and teflon) this cloth. Do you? I haven't found a  
> really good
> burnishing technique or sizing solution. Have you?
> Chris Solliday rpt
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Fred Sturm" <fssturm at unm.edu>
> To: "College and University Technicians" <caut at ptg.org>
> Sent: Thursday, June 26, 2008 10:05 AM
> Subject: Re: [CAUT] Which S&S replacement action parts?
>
>
>> On Jun 25, 2008, at 7:47 PM, Barbara Richmond wrote:
>>
>>> I haven't worked on many newer Steinways with the low friction but
>>> firm
>>> cloth.  Actually, I have strips of it and I haven't figured out yet
>>> how
>>> anyone has determined that it is so firm.
>>
>> Hi Barbara,
>> The felt itself isn't particularly firm. In fact, it might be on the
>> spongy side. After the parts are pinned, the centers are dipped in a
>> solution of a teflon-like substance. It hardens in the felt. Around
>> the edges of the dipping baths, there is white substance where the
>> solvent has evaporated and left the solids. It feels much like what
>> you get if you let McLube evaporate.
>> The firmness of the bushings comes from impregnation of the felt with
>> the lubricating substance.
>> Regards,
>> Fred Sturm
>> University of New Mexico
>> fssturm at unm.edu
>>
>>
>