[CAUT] S&S Key Bushings

[Fred Sturm]

Partly it's logistics: I find it quicker to apply powdered teflon if  
the keys are off (or the felt is laid out ready to be glued in). I  
can't say I have a reason to prefer the performance of one over the  
other. If I'm not going to take the time to remove keys from the  
frame, I'll apply Protek CLP or Prolube. But I almost always remove  
the keys for one reason or another (usually wanting to make sure the  
bushings are well fitted and ironed).
	The quickness comparison is maybe a little marginal when the bushings  
are already glued in. But a loaded pipe-cleaner does apply material to  
both sides at once. It seems a bit easier and faster. Maybe the  
material used is less expensive, though I can't say I've checked. I  
guess I also like to be able to see that, yes indeed, I have already  
lubed this piano's bushings. And I figure the material stays on the  
surface where it is needed, rather than penetrating to where it is  
wasted. I don't really know how much of Protek or Prolube is actual  
lubricant and how much is vehicle, and what exactly it does in terms  
of bonding and staying where it is needed.
	All told, just personal preference, which could easily change over  
time if a reason emerges to do it differently.
Regards,
Fred Sturm
University of New Mexico
fssturm at unm.edu



On Oct 30, 2008, at 6:05 PM, Ed Sutton wrote:

> Fred-
>
> I'm curiou why you prefer Teflon on the cloth over ProLube on the  
> cloth.
>
> Ed S.
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Fred Sturm" <fssturm at unm.edu>
> To: "College and University Technicians" <caut at ptg.org>
> Sent: Thursday, October 30, 2008 8:01 PM
> Subject: Re: [CAUT] S&S Key Bushings
>
>
>> On Oct 30, 2008, at 1:23 PM, Jim Busby wrote:
>>> Thanks Fred,
>>>
>>> I forgot about the Teflon in the bushings. Do you do that very last?
>>>
>>> Jim
>> When I put in new bushings, I apply the teflon before I glue in  
>> the  felt. WIth a brand new piano, I put teflon in with a  
>> pipecleaner, then  follow with heat. Reason? The pipecleaner  
>> "fuzzes up" the felt so it  needs to be ironed down again. With the  
>> new piano, the bushing has  never been ironed and probably needs  
>> some sizing, as well as lubing  and ironing, so this is just a  
>> standard, assembly line process. The  way I use the heated cauls, I  
>> don't find any affect on the teflon  powder.
>> At this point, I haven't done any steam sizing of bushings that   
>> weren't already tefloned for quite a while. But I think I would  
>> steam,  then do a first, quick ironing, then apply teflon, then a  
>> final ironing.
>> Chris says with the VS you don't need the additional lube. I guess   
>> I'll see, but my take is that what is described as being in the VS  
>> (1%  silicone) is probably a lot less lubrication than a fairly  
>> think  application of teflon powder on the felt, and a coating of  
>> McLube on  the pin. (Why McLube on the pin? In my experience it  
>> sticks on metal  much better than ProLube, and it seems to be the  
>> slipperiest substance  I have come across. Granted it's killing  
>> brain cells, or the solvent  part of it is. But who needs those?  
>> <G>).
>> Regards,
>> Fred Sturm
>> University of New Mexico
>> fssturm at unm.edu
>>