Parafin Blues

[Jim]

Dear Ron:

My Steinway L 337140 was made in 1952 or 3.  It has had bad verdi gris
for 10 years now.  I have soaked it with trichlorethylene several times.
I've used Protek twice.  It helps immediately, but the problem always
returns within about a year.

Jim Coleman, Sr. (AZ)



On Tue, 30 Jul 1996, Ron Torrella wrote:

> 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:
> Asst. Piano Technician	      http://www.prairienet.org/arts/ptg/homepage.html
> University of Michigan  	Provided in cooperation with Prairienet.
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