Parafin Blues

Ron Torrella torrella@umich.edu
Tue, 30 Jul 1996 13:25:24 -0400 (EDT)


Pardon me while I barge in with my issue du jour....parafin-sick
flanges.  My understanding of this gandrenous mess is that it was used as
a lubricant in the 20s and 30s (or sometime before or after that
generation) and that its presence -- of late -- has proven to render
action centers unreliable alternating between tight and loose with little
rhyme or reason.  Further, it's been my understanding that -- aside from
the several products which claim to relieve the tightness (how, exactly?)
and perhaps wash the parafin out of the cloth.  Since it appears that the
entire flange is usually fairly soaked with parafin, aside from  a
complete dunk bath, how does one propose to remove the gunk altogether.
Again, my understanding is that there really *isn't* a way to remove the
stuff, making complete replacement of the part mandatory.....or at least
the bushing should be replaced.

This has probably been hashed out already, but fresh discussion isn't a
bad idea.

So, rebush 'em?  Repin 'em?  Soak 'em?  Or toss 'em?

I say toss 'em.

Ron Torrella				Check out The Piano Page at:
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