talcum powder!!!

[Newton Hunt]

STOP!!!!

NEVER USE SILICON ANYWHERE NEAR A PIANO!!!!!

That stuff is like a barrel of BBs dropped from the rafters of a warehouse. 
They will be EVERYWHERE.

Silicon is NOT a lubricant but a strain reliever and it gets into EVERYTHING. 
When it gets under keytops they come off.  Tuning pins it will not stay, action
center are not lubricated the static friction increases and if it is on the case
you cannot refinish the piano.

This stuff is bad news BIG time and you are responsible.  It is the best way I
can think of for killing pianos.

THere is a lot better stuff around for these purposes that are proven safe. 
Silicon is NOT safe to use.  It is far worse than graphite.

Clean out as much of that "stuff" as you can and use protek one or two times.  I
also would take out the action and blow it out outside to get the mystery powder
out.  It may be talc and it may not be and it certainly will not improve
performance, nor will it impede it.

		Newton


Tvak@AOL.COM wrote:
> 
> Tuned an Acrosonic (circa 1955) today with extremely slow hammer return.
> Client asked me to give her an estimate on bringing the instrument back to
> good playing condition.  Opened it up to take a look and found white powder
> all over the place, mostly on that rail (I don't know what to call it...)
> above the capstans that the stickers protrude through.  Smelled it and it
> smells like talcum powder to me.  I think this is the cause of the slow
> hammer return.  If so,  do you think applying Protek CLP to the hammer butt
> flange will do the trick?  (I gave her an estimate on the lube job, but not
> for re-pinning...)
> 
> Tom Sivak