WD40

[David Skolnik]

Les -
Lighter fluid is naptha, a leaning solvent. I've used it often, 
though best result is by taking part off and working it thoroughly 
after applying fluid, especially in severe cases.  Also, applying 
heated air can often help, even without removing the parts.  Yes, I 
suppose you need to be careful if you over-apply the naptha and then 
use heat.  Holds up if piano is being played but I don't think it's 
always a long term fix.

David Skolnik
Hastings on Hudson, NY



At 05:40 PM 7/19/2007, you wrote:
>A local tech has taken to using "lighter fluid" to loosen actions, and he
>has said numerous times it works at least as well as Protek.  Any others
>tried this with or without success?
>les bartlett
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
>Of Randy Chastain
>Sent: Thursday, July 19, 2007 9:22 AM
>To: Pianotech List
>Subject: Re: WD40
>
>Have you ever tried brake cleaner in extreme cases?
>
>Randy C
>
>
>On 7/19/07 6:43 AM, "David Boyce" <David at piano.plus.com> wrote:
>
> > On Monday I tuned the old birdcage upright of a work colleague.  This
> > is the sole piano on which I have ever used WD40 on the action.
> >
> > I first tuned it about eight years ago. When I came to it, the action
> > was extremely sluggish, with notes just not repeating, and keys staying
>down.
> > When I pulled the action out to look at the centres, I found that at
> > some time in the past, the centres had all had been oiled.
> > Moving a hammer flange with my finger, it moved with an evil slow
> > oleaginous resistance. I  could see sludge around the bushings.
> >
> > What to do?  The piano was cetainly not worth repinning and rebushing.
> > I suggested to my colleague and her husband that, as the piano was
> > virtually unplayable as it was, I could try WD40 to see if it would
> > re-liquify the old oil that had dried to varnish consistency, and at
> > least get the action moving, presuming that the wood of the flanges had
>not swollen.
> >
> > They agreed to try this.  It was spectacularly sucessful.  I had to do
> > a large pitch raise, so went back in a few days to fine tune, and
> > advised them to let the kids and their friends play as much as
> > possible.  The action completely freed up!  And, free it has remained
> > in the years since, with no fiurther applications needed.
> >
> > So, while I would never ever in normal circumstances put WD40 near an
> > action, in this case it did just what was needed.
> >
> > David.
> >
> >
>
>
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>3:30 PM
>