Dry Chemical Fire Extinguisher

[Mark Story]

I found this in a dorm here years ago. I just vacuumed as much of it as I
could and blew the rest out (to the consternation of the custodians, no
doubt). I haven't seen any residual damage. For all I know it may have
benefited it by absorbing some of the spilled beer through the years.


Mark Story. RPT
Eastern Washington University
Cheney, Washington

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-pianotech@ptg.org [mailto:owner-pianotech@ptg.org]On Behalf Of
Farrell
Sent: Tuesday, August 29, 2000 1:41 PM
To: pianotech@ptg.org
Subject: Dry Chemical Fire Extinguisher

Hmmmm, it just doesn't stop, does it? A church I service regularly was
vandalized. Someone sprayed everything, including the piano, with a dry
chemical fire extinguisher. I will be going to service & clean the piano
next week. My chief concern is whether the chemical(s) will cause corrosion
on the strings - and elsewhere. According to a fire extinguisher web site:
"A dry chemical extinguisher sprays a very fine power of sodium bicarbonate
(normal baking soda), potassium bicarbonate (nearly identical to baking
soda), or monoammonium phosphate." I even found MSDS sheets for these items,
but nothing that indicates what it might do to metal. Anyone got any
experience with this, or any good ideas?

Terry Farrell
Piano Tuning & Service
Tampa, Florida
mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com