A remedy for Verdigris

[David Love]

First issue is that the problem is not in the birdseye: it's in the wood the
holds the bushing.  I suppose you could remove the bushing, seal the wood,
install a new bushing and then repin.  The question is whether the labor
involved (and let's not forget the condition of the repetition spring, the
regulating buttons, the wippen heal cloth) is worth it when compared to the
cost of a new wippen.  On the surface, my argument goes for replacing the
wippen.  The labor versus cost just doesn't pan out to me and with even
minimal risk that recontamination may occur, it doesn't seem worth it.  On a
customer job with any recurring problems falling under your own warranty and
considering the customer is paying for the new wippens, it is definitely not
worth it.  With spec projects, why take the risk.  The cost benefit versus
labor is not significant enough to take any chance.  Anyway, new Renner
parts, in my view, perform better than 70+-year-old Steinway parts under the
best conditions anyway.  

It's a reasonable idea that might make sense in rare situations--though I'm
not sure what those would be--, but in general, not worth the effort and too
many potential liabilities.  At least that's my view.  If you're not
sentimental about original designs, there's certainly no reason to get
sentimental about original wippens with verdigris.   

David Love
davidlovepianos at comcast.net
www.davidlovepianos.com 

Original message
From: erwinspiano at aol.com
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Received: 3/14/2008 7:45:02 PM
Subject: A remedy for Verdigris


Hey all
 I know ...I know there is no remedy for verdigris .... except a new parts
transplant... but the other day my 83 year old Dad & I were looking a
perfectly useable set of vintage Steinway wippens except for the mild case
of creeping green crud so, We were lamenting having to toss a beautiful set
of original Steinway wippens in the trash. We started brainstorming how we
could solve this given the contamination is in the wood.  Now I know many of
us have re-pinned & re- bushed ...put on new flanges etc. & in the end all
for nothing as it returns, But with a good set of wippens approaching 1000
bucks the idea has my attention.
  I told my Dad I was thinking about how to cut out the birds eye & then
machine a new insert with birds eye & all. My thought was that if the new
insert was put in with epoxy that this would act as a verdigris barrier from
entering back into the new wood. Then My Pops says "why not just coat the
existing birds eye with epoxy & slide a coated pin thru the hole to seal up
the exposed inner wood which should prove de a barrier to any further
contamination". Then pin on new flanges. I thought the idea had merit.
  I mean for a few short hours of pinning & coating an original set of
beautifully made & machined  maple wippens could be preserved & re-used at
any level of performance required. 
  How bout some discussion.
  Dale