how about? for damper felts

[Allen Wright]

oh yes, Terry, I've heard people mention this felt wedge technique:  
so, should I presume that you have 88 little wedges for all the keys?  
This technique sounds like it might be even more focused than just  
soaking the bushings. I like the brass caul/soldering iron idea -  
I'll have to make a tip like that for my soldering  iron. Sounds like  
the cat's meow...

Cheers,

Allen Wright, RPT
London, UK


On 19 May 2007, at 00:04, Farrell wrote:

> I've never tried wallpaper remover with water - although I hear  
> very good results are had with that combo. I have always used  
> denatured alcohol & water - about 50/50 on both damper felts and  
> key bushing felts. Once the felt has been wetted, one can switch to  
> straight water. The 50/50 initial ratio seems to not be critical at  
> all. If hide glue had been used, after several hours of soaking,  
> felt simply falls off - no cutting, tugging, scraping - no nothing  
> - felt simply falls off.
>
> For white-type glue in key bushings, I have soaked with alcohol/ 
> water overnight. I place small wedges of dense felt in the mortise  
> to hold moisture right at the key bushings. Then I hit each bushing  
> with a very quick application of a dedicated hot key bushing  
> ironing brass piece in the soldering iron. The quick blast of heat  
> on the soaked bushing gives the bushing glue a shot of steam and  
> makes them all but fall out. Unfortunately there remains some glue  
> residue on the wood.  :-(
>
> I wish it were a law to only used hot hide glue on key bushings. Pa- 
> foo-ee on anyone that doesn't.  ;-)
>
> Terry Farrell
> ----- Original Message -----
>
> While we're on this subject - I just introduced the notion of using  
> a damper felt removal solution (diluted wallpaper remover and  
> vinegar) rather than the manly (or womanly) slicing off and sanding  
> of old felts (the old-fashioned method they've been using here),  
> into the milieu of the Steinway London Restoration Centre, where  
> I've been working for the last few months. Lightbulbs went on above  
> heads when they realized how much time they won't be wasting  
> anymore if they incorporate this cheeky American technique : )
>
> I've always figured that the ratios of the different ingredients  
> were not particularly crucial - just a well-diluted solution. Does  
> anyone have any comments on that? Is the vinegar really necessary?  
> I think my solution morphed over the years from one including  
> alcohol-water-vinegar to the present one, for vaguely remembered  
> reasons....
>
> For keybushing removal here, they've been using pure "meths'",  
> which as far as i can tell is a mix of ethanol and methanol (yikes  
> - isn't that toxic?) and lots of tugging and slicing. I think the  
> American solution will be an improvement with that, as well.
>
> I know: steam and wet cloth works very well on key bushings also,  
> but that's probably a little too radical too present here.
>
> I'd be curious to hear if there are any other ideas on glue  
> softening solutions. This one works best with hide glue, naturally.  
> Anybody have a solution for white and other more stubborn glues?
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Allen Wright, RPT
> London, UK
>

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