removing key bushings

[John M. Formsma]

I'm quite certain these came from the factory this way.

Thanks to all who responded.

To wrap up my part of the discussion, what I did with the bushings was
my usual procedure: first soak with water and a bit of wallpaper paste
remover. Then I steamed them with steam from a teapot. The buahings came
out OK -- more difficult than hide glue, though.

Oddly, the bushings came out easier with a lower pressure steam stream
as opposed to higher pressure. The FR bushings could be removed more
easily than the BR bushings. ???

I did try acetone on one bushing, but was concerned about acetone
accidentally getting on the plastic keytops. Alcohol and water and/or
alcohol/acetone/water might have done better, and I can try that the
next time.

I basically figured that it was going to take extra work no matter what
so I might as well just get it over with and quit grumbling. <g>

The only negative result I've seem from steaming bushings is splitting
of some key buttons. Is that normal, or does it occur mainly on cheaper
pianos? I'd be guessing the latter since the two times it has happened
they were spinets.

Regards,

John Formsma

> -----Original Message-----
> From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org]On
> Behalf Of Dave Nereson
> Sent: Friday, March 26, 2004 2:04 AM
> To: Kevin E. Ramsey; Pianotech
> Subject: Re: removing key bushings
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Kevin E. Ramsey" <kevin.e.ramsey@cox.net>
> To: "Pianotech" <pianotech@ptg.org>
> Sent: Thursday, March 25, 2004 5:25 PM
> Subject: Re: removing key bushings
>
>
> > One can only hope.
> >
> > Kevin.
> >
> > I doubt sincerely they came from the factory that way, for what it's
> worth.
>
>     Oh no, there are plenty of pianos whose key bushings were
> glued new with
> that hard-to-remove white glue, even from back in the 50's.
> I just did a
> 1954 Betsy Ross (Lester) spinet that had the stuff.  I'm sure
> they were
> original factory bushings.
> They came out OK just by steaming, though -- not as easy as
> hide glue, but I
> just lingered longer with the steam.  I've encountered others
> that were
> quite difficult, however, and I imagine the alcohol & water
> soaking would be
> a good method for them, but I've never tried it myself.
>     --David Nereson, RPT
>
> Someone probably rebushed at one time with PVC-E or a heat-glue gun or
> something...
> >   ----- Original Message -----
> >   From: John Formsma
> >   To: Pianotech
> >   Sent: Thursday, March 25, 2004 1:38 PM
> >   Subject: Re: removing key bushings
> >
> >   Do you reckon one of the punishments in hell for piano
> manufacturers
> >   will be having to eternally remove bushings glued with
> this stuff? <g>
> >
> >   John Formsma
> >
> >
>
>
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