A River Ran/Water repairs

[Lance Lafargue]

I live in Louisiana where I have done probably 100 estimates on water
damaged pianos in the last 5 years, and I also used to work for the Kimball
dealer.  I just thought I'd mention that I am often amazed at how glue
joints seem unfazed by total submersion in water (our humidity level here
is like total submersion).  I look at the soundboard, bridges, etc., and
many times, despite complete submersion, the piano looks fine except for
hard felt and rust.  I always let them know that we can't tell when a glue
joint may fail in the future due to this sort of thing.  I would also
mention that Kimball and other manufactures have been using really good
glue on bridges, etc., I forget now what it's called.  It is tan in color.

On the rusted strings (like down near the bass bridge) when only the
hitches are rusted, I sometimes use a product called CRC which closes the
pores of the metal.  This does not allow air into the molecules and
prevents any further corrosion.  This would NOT work near the pinblock
however, since it is some sort of petroleum-type product.  It smells a
little like Liquid Wrench.  I use it when I see that the customer doesn't
want to/can't spend money on restringing and really needs to spend $ on a
new bed, refrigerator, etc.   
Lance Lafargue, RPT
New Orleans Chapter
Covington, LA.
lafargue@iamerica.net

----------
> From: Tom Cole <tcole@cruzio.com>
> To: pianotech <pianotech@ptg.org>
> Subject: A River Ran Through It
> Date: Thursday, February 05, 1998 9:54 PM
> 
> Today, I was asked by an insurance company to look at a water-damaged
> 1989 Kimball Viennese grand. I was the second technician to be hired,
> the first having given an extremely high bid, several thousand dollars.
> For the record, the first tech was not a PTG member.
> 
> The jacuzzi upstairs had sprung a leak in a pressure line. The water ran
> from the point of the leak to an opening in the ceiling below for a fire
> sprinkler. That's right, there was a fire sprinkler directly over the
> piano (you know, in case of spontaneous combustion).
> 
> So, last December, water had dripped down on to the music desk at the
> rate of about 16 ounces per minute, spilled from the tray into the plate
> webbing of the two treble tuning pin areas, thence into the
> corresponding sections of the action and, presumably, out the "keybed
> drain" (hole for shift lever).
> 
> Everything is now dry and in remarkably good shape. No keys or action
> parts are sticking. There is some unevenness of hammer swings but it was
> probably that way before. The only rust is on the strings (mostly around
> tuning pins). The music desk tray felt became unglued. The piano is very
> out of tune. I cannot find anything else wrong and I'm concerned that I
> have overlooked something major.
> 
> Anyone have ideas of what to look for?
> 
> Tom
> -- 
> Thomas A. Cole RPT
> Santa Cruz, CA
>