[CAUT] VS Profelt

[rwest1 at unl.edu]

Fred,

I like your post.  Panaceas are rarely what they're cracked up to  
be.  Throwing on chemicals believing that you'll get totally  
consistent, predictable results in every case is faulty.  Good  
judgement is always called for.  I remember when methanol treatment  
of center pin bushings was all the rage.  Methanol certainly works,  
but I have never been a big fan of it.  Profelt sounds great, but  
your cautionary note is indeed noteworthy.  Thanks.

Richard West

On Nov 6, 2008, at 4:37 PM, Fred Sturm wrote:

> 	A couple words of caution might be in order. This is not a "magic  
> formula." The swelling of the felt ("re-fluffing" it) is due to the  
> action of water content in the formula. The alcohol in the formula  
> helps the water penetrate. In use for action centers, this is  
> precisely the same as using a formula of water and alcohol, except  
> that we don't know the proportions in VS Profelt (and the Profelt  
> has some lubrication function - but the bigger result will be due  
> to "shrinking of felt" as in simply applying a formula of alcohol  
> and water).
> 	This is not meant to discourage the use of Profelt, simply to urge  
> that it be used "with eyes wide open." I do realize that it is  
> different from just alcohol and water in that it has a lubricant,  
> and apparently some kind of conditioner. Silicone lubricant is  
> probably effective and probably has no negative side effects in  
> this application. Whatever may be used as a conditioner may  
> possibly have side effects in some situations.
> 	Re-swelling of felt in itself is a reversal of the packing due to  
> wear. However, it can be overdone. Felted cloths, especially  
> bushing cloth, have been made dense with considerable trouble,  
> processing including heat and pressure. It is quite possible to  
> "over-reverse" and end up with a felt that is less dense than it  
> was originally. Using cauls for key bushings is a somewhat  
> effective way of preventing this. For wippen cushions and the like,  
> cauls aren't an option.
> 	Personally, I find the use of heat and pressure (a clothes iron or  
> heated cauls) is a good way to try to keep the felt in a firmly  
> packed condition (which means the regulation will be more stable).
> 	One thing that re-swelling felt doesn't do is reverse wear. Fibers  
> that have been broken down and worn away are gone. Lubrication of  
> new materials and parts is the best way to have long lasting parts.  
> In fact, that is one of the claims of VS Profelt: use it on new  
> felt so that its lubrication properties will prolong life and  
> improve function. It may be effective in that way. I will find out  
> when I try some. Meanwhile, I put my money on powdered teflon and  
> other, more concentrated lubricants.
> Regards,
> Fred Sturm
> University of New Mexico
> fssturm at unm.edu
>
>
>
> On Nov 6, 2008, at 3:17 PM, Paul T Williams wrote:
>
>> Hi Barbara,
>>
>> I would also like to know about VSP for center pin bushings!  I  
>> have only used it for key bushings and wip cushions.  Didn't do  
>> quite as good a job on the wip cushions, but did help...the  
>> cushions were really old and badly dented.  Probably should have  
>> replaced, but...ya know...budget stuff.
>

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