1st, The mystery: Refinishing my piano, 1920 Geo. Steck (un petit piano à queue). Removing felt insert from each of the two pieces that are the end boards of the music shelf assembly (upon which the desk/shelf slides in and out). Soaked in water/wallpaper remover. One popped right out. The other tore to shreds and wouldn't budge. Why would these behave so differently when both are originals and everything looked identical? Never mind, I don't really care. It's just one of those weird things that make life interesting. 2nd The discovery: Dad was no "Tim, the Tool Man" but I inherited what he had. For some odd reason, he owned a large, heavy-duty electric soldering iron. I grabbed that sucker, got it hot, ran it up and down that soggy channel till I could smell hot, 85-year-old wool and was then able to remove the felt--still not easily. (Wish I'd thought of the iron before I picked at the felt so much.) 3rd The question: What is a source for this kind of felt? The pieces were 1 1/8" wide, a little thicker than thick key bushing cloth, but not as thick as spring rail cloth. The only thing Schaff lists that might work is a piece of thick, uncut nameboard felt. Alan Barnard Steaming Sheep in Salem, MO
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC