Acetic Acid - Use in pianos????

[Ron Nossaman]

Rob,

The smell of acetic acid is the same as that given off by silicone sealant
and vinegar, only stronger. The old timers used to use it to 're-activate'
old hide glue in upright jack flanges so they wouldn't have to take a set
apart to re-glue them when they found a few loose ones. Now, you can use CA
for the same job (if you must) and die from an entirely *different* smell.
They also soaked hide glue joints in the stuff to get them apart, with
varying degrees of success and subsequent damage to both the parts involved,
and their lungs. Give it to the chem geeks, wave it by-by and be very glad
it's gone. 


 Ron Nossaman