[pianotech] Re: wood - was: removing key pins

[Keith Roberts]

You can crush wood with a  hammer and swell it back up with water. Water or
humidity erases pecker tracks as we sometimes call them in the construction
trades. That is why steaming balance rail holes resizes them or keys get
tighter in higher humidity conditions. Not because the hole in a piece of
wood gets smaller with humidity, it gets larger as the key swells up. If the
wood hadn't been crushed the key wouldn't get tighter. The same would happen
to eased bushings. This would give the illusion that holes drilled in wood
get smaller with higher humidity and explain why keys get tighter.
Comprendo?
Keith R
----- Original Message -----
From: "David Love" <davidlovepianos@earthlink.net>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Sunday, September 08, 2002 6:03 PM
Subject: Re: wood - was: removing key pins


> Say what?
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Keith Roberts" <kpiano@goldrush.com>
> To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
> Sent: September 08, 2002 5:49 PM
> Subject: Re: wood - was: removing key pins
>
>
> I think what is happening is the wood cells that have been compressed
around
> the balance hole, by the playing or un careful removal, or easement are
> swelling back up. I t stays swollen, the cell, and the key has to be
eased.
> If we have a novice on the job nailing off siding, the hammer divots can
get
> numerous. Give him a bad time about not being able to hit what he's aiming
> at and make him think that repairing will cost him out of his paycheck by
> the divot. Wait a couple of damp mornings or hose it down and have them go
> count how much it's going to cost them. There won't be a hammer mark
> anywhere. (Unless the guy is really bad, in that case he packs lumber and
> cleans the job site)
> Keith R
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "David Love" <davidlovepianos@earthlink.net>
> To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
> Sent: Saturday, September 07, 2002 4:14 PM
> Subject: Re: wood - was: removing key pins
>
>
> > It's pretty easy to see that this is not the case.  If you have pulley
> keys
> > the first thing to try is steaming the balance rail hole which will
swell
> > the wood and tighten them.  After the wood dries the holes will still be
> > tight and you will have to ease them somewhat.  This happens
inadvertently
> > when removing key bushings often.  Before cutting kerfs and inserting
> wood,
> > I would try steaming them.  It doesn't take much.
> >
> > David Love
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > > "Holes in wood get smaller as humidity goes down..."
> > >
> > > I have heard this before. Believe me, I am not trying to start an
> > arguement - just trying to understand. If a hole gets smaller, then why
do
> > tuning pins get more loose with lower humidity?
> > >
> > > Terry Farrell
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
>
>