[pianotech] Steinway verdigris questions

Thomas Cole tcole at cruzio.com
Wed Sep 16 17:51:37 MDT 2009


My one experience with repining Steinway grand wippens, I pinned the old 
wips to *new* flanges. I also cleaned the birdseyes with some kind of 
deveritgriser. I'll let you know how it plays after 75 years. It's been 
about 10 so far.
Tom Cole

Terry Farrell wrote:
> No, no, Wim, that wasn't my point. I know you were recommending 
> replacement, as most would. However you suggested that repining will 
> provide a satisfactory fix for a period of 75 years. IMHO, any fix 
> that lasts 75 years is a permanent fix - and what then is to recommend 
> against a permanent fix?
>
> I don't have the experience of repining action parts with verdigris 
> and then observing how long it takes for the action to slow up again - 
> but my general understanding is that the problem would commonly 
> reappear in relatively short order - maybe just a few years - or less 
> - but very likely within a decade or two at most. My point was that my 
> best guess is that repining a verdigris action is NOT a 75 year 
> satisfactory fix.
>
> Maybe someone with better experience can chime in.....
>
> Terry Farrell
>
> On Sep 16, 2009, at 1:55 PM, wimblees at aol.com 
> <mailto:wimblees at aol.com> wrote:
>
>> It might take 75 years for the verdigris to effect the center pin, 
>> but by that time, other problems will most likely have occurred to 
>> replace the wippens, and/or the hammer flanges. In actuality, I've 
>> always recommended replacing the parts. I think in all my years of 
>> rebuilding, I've only repinned one set of verdigris shanks. And that 
>> was the first set I ever did. Then I learned my lesson.
>>  
>> I just mentioned the repinning as a possibility, not as a 
>> recommendation.
>> Wim
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Terry Farrell <mfarrel2 at tampabay.rr.com 
>> <mailto:mfarrel2 at tampabay.rr.com>>
>> To: pianotech at ptg.org <mailto:pianotech at ptg.org>
>> Sent: Tue, Sep 15, 2009 5:41 pm
>> Subject: Re: [pianotech] Steinway verdigris questions
>>
>> I dunno Wim,  75 years with no problems, sounds too good to be true. 
>> 75 years could be considered "permanent". Care to amend that claim?  ;-)
>>
>> Terry Farrell
>>
>> On Sep 15, 2009, at 10:46 PM, wimblees at aol.com 
>> <mailto:wimblees at aol.com> wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>     Wim,
>>>      In my experience the repin repair is also a temporary fix.
>>>     Been there, failed there.
>>>      
>>>     Best wishes,
>>>      
>>>     Tom Driscoll
>>>
>>> Tom
>>>  
>>> I agree with you. The only reason I mention the repinning is for 
>>> temporary repairs, in cases where the customer doesn't want to pay 
>>> for new parts. 
>>>
>>> Willem (Wim) Blees, RPT
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: tom <tomtuner at verizon.net <mailto:tomtuner at verizon.net>>
>>> Julie
>>>  
>>> Verdigris is not mold. It is a chemical reaction between the parafin 
>>> wax Steinway put in the cloth and the nickel on the center pin. 
>>> Since this reaction took over 75 years to develop, you can repin, 
>>> and the problem will come back in 75 years. But, since the parts are 
>>> that old, it's probably time to replace the worn out parts anyway.
>>> Willem (Wim) Blees, RPT
>> =
>


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