applying graphite

[David Nereson]

	Despite the current prejudice against graphite, I still use it in a few
places.
	Unfortunately, a lot of techs confuse dry graphite powder with the gunky
"graphite grease" that was used in past decades by several manufacturers
who smeared it all over repetition spring grooves in grands especially,
but also on trapwork springs and elsewhere.  Because of this gunk,
graphite in any form has gotten a bad rep.
	But that's not the stuff I use -- I wouldn't even know where to get it or
how to make it.
	But I do feel dry powdered graphite is OK rubbed into the spot where
grand action glide studs rest.  Everything else seems to wear off too
soon.  Powdered teflon doesn't always stay put.  I also use graphite
powder on the part of the soft pedal dowel or grand damper Pitman that
goes through the keybed.  Not always, but sometimes.
	As for damper lever spring grooves and butt spring grooves in upright
actions, I dislodge all the springs (flip them out of their grooves with a
small stick or screwdriver), brush the grooves clean with a toothbrush
while holding the vacuum cleaner hose next to the toothbrush, then get a
No. 2 pencil and just rub all the grooves with the pencil.  It's quick and
works fine.  If the springs are gunked up or tarnished, I remove the whole
spring rail and brush the contact area of the springs with fine steel
wool.
	For tops of dowel capstans, jacks, tops of repetition levers, etc., I
used to use Dag, and sometimes still do, but prefer Emralon.
--David Nereson, RPT

-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org]On
Behalf Of ed miller
Sent: Monday, November 13, 2006 8:46 AM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: applying graphite


Would anyone share their method of applying graphite to felt (i.e. damper
spring felt dots) and wood (i.e. capstan dowels and jacks tips).

I bought a powdered graphite and I don't realy feel like it is taking to
the
wood and felt like it should. I've been brushing it on.

Thanks,
Ed

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