(no subject)

[Elian Degen J.]

Hello Bud

Do not worrie too much,  I am 100% positive it is not your fault, If any
problem arises, try to have that oxidation analysed.

I have worked with many pianos which have Dampp Chaser installed, never had
any problem.

I have also seen that kind of damage in several pianos, some customers try
to trick you into believing it is not his fault.

My experience with the synptoms you describe have been due to trying to get
rid of woodworm, Some pest companies here in Caracas, have been using a gas
chamber (which they make at customers home) and they use a substance that
ends up woodworm, It turned out that this substance reacts with metal,
Depending on the concentration, damage starts to show in about three weeks
and renders the piano usless in a couple of month.

The substance they use normaly is Methyl Bromate (in spanish Bromuro de
Metilo ) and there is one which commercial name here is FOSCAN, whatch out
if they used any of these or maybe they tried to do a home made job...

What you describe it is not a normal humidity damage.

Further on, when concentration was high enough and the did not use the piano
immediately you will find that dampers stik to the bass strings

My comment




----- Original Message -----
From: <TunerBud@AOL.COM>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Monday, August 09, 1999 3:31 PM
Subject: (no subject)


> HiGroup:
> This is the lst time I'm sending in a problem. Here goes.  I've been
tuning a
> Sohmer console since 1981.  Initially I put in a Damp Chaser rod.  This
was
> upgraded to a complete humidity system in 1994.  Tuned the piano in
October
> '98, and replaced the wicks.  Tuned the piano in April 99, and nothing
> unusual at that time.  I did not open the knee at that time.  The customer
> moved in June '99.  Went last week to tune and almost died.  The bass
strings
> are covered in some kind of blue oxidation and have become dead.  Two
tenor
> strings are broken. The movers took the humidifier tank out of the piano,
The
> brackets holding the little heater bar are corroded and broken.  The
Humidity
> system was not plugged in.  I am at a complete loss.
>     If the bass string oxidation had started last Oct. when I replaced the
> wicks, I would have seen it.  In April of this year if the bass strings
were
> dead, I would have heard it.  What and when went wrong?  The movers
assured
> the customer that they did not bomb the truck prior to moving into the new
> place.
>     The only thing I can think of is because the system wasn't plugged in,
> the oxidation  formed.  But it would have to have done its dirty work very
> fast.
>     Before I restring the bass, I would like to have some idea of what
went
> wrong so that this isn't repeated.  Any help would be appreciated.
>
> Bud Willis (NJ Chapter)
>