Hi, Wim:
Are you sure the felt was wool? The felt normally sold by supply houses or yardage stores is usually synthetic. I’ve seen many covers made from synthetic actually cause rust, as you said. But wool absorbs the moisture and doesn’t cause rust. The cover has to breathe and release the moisture it has absorbed, which wool does also. I suppose if there’s too much moisture, then it can’t evaporate. I would think in a building with HVAC there wouldn’t be excessive moisture, since a lot of it would have been condensed out already. Maybe where you live there’s so much humidity that you would need a vinyl cover. I live near the ocean, and the salt air can rust strings in a week. I recommend covers to anyone who lives within 5-10 miles of the water. I have never had a piano with a cover develop rust on the strings, as long as it’s a wool cover, and it’s properly made to cover the entire inside of the piano.
My experience.
Paul McCloud
San Diego
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of wimblees at aol.com
Sent: Thursday, September 17, 2009 10:57 AM
To: pianotech at ptg.org; caut at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Climate Systems, String Covers, and Effects on Tuning Stability & Tone
with string covers to maximize tuning stability. I purchased several yards of string cover felt from Schaff, and placed a cover on a Yamaha C5 in the recital hall.
Felt string covers are not good for pianos, especially in very humid climates. Felts absorbs moisture, then releases it onto the strings. And when felt gets too wet, it will actually attach itself to the strings. I actually had to rip a piece of felt cover off a section of strings. My recommendation is to get a ranch hide cover. It doesn't absorb moisture, and acts as a barrier.
Willem (Wim) Blees, RPT
Piano Tuner/Technician
Mililani, Oahu, HI
808-349-2943
Author of:
The Business of Piano Tuning
available from Potter Press
www.pianotuning.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Paul Milesi <paul at pmpiano.com>
To: PTG Pianotech List <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Wed, Sep 16, 2009 9:06 pm
Subject: [pianotech] Climate Systems, String Covers, and Effects on Tuning Stability & Tone
Greetings. I am the new staff technician for the Howard University Department of Music in Washington, DC.
I am working hard to overcome or at least slow the deleterious effects of an HVAC system that is pumping air of all extremes into recital halls, classrooms, p ractice rooms, and teaching studios -- all in combination with windows that open and close. Since the building opened in 1961, significant damage (mostly pinblock and soundboard damage from excessive dryness, but also string rust/corrosion from our humid summers here in DC) has been done to what used to be some very beautiful pianos, including several Baldwin Ls and Rs and 4 or 5 Steinways.
For starters, I have obtained funds for 10 Life Saver systems, to be distributed among the recital hall, piano teaching studios, and practice rooms. I have installed a couple already, and thought it would also be a good idea to combine the systems with string covers to maximize tuning stability. I purchased several yards of string cover felt from Schaff, and placed a cover on a Yamaha C5 in the recital hall. I currently have no plans to install undercovers.
Can a string cover be left on the piano during recitals? The first person to play with it on last week thought it was damping the tone. I’m sure it is to some extent, but was thinking it’s tonal effects are nominal, and are far outweighed by gains in tuning stability and rust prevention. What are your thoughts on this? Is the sensation of damped tone anything more than psychological? If any of you use string covers, do you leave them on in performance situations? Are the Edwards covers any different in terms of basic properties from the Schaff felt? Does anyone use them in practic e rooms, classrooms, or teaching studios? Do you meet with any resistance from faculty or students? Do you experience significant benefits for the trouble? Is there any advantage to a string cover on a piano in a teaching studio that has the lid closed all the time (I’m thinking yes, there is, because it will cover the pinblock area)?
Also, for any who have Life Saver Systems, who has the responsibility for maintaining them (i.e., filling humidifier)? Faculty at Howard seem willing to pitch in, since they are already seeing significant benefits from a little more attention to their pianos, but I’m wondering about the long term — would it be better for me to simply look in on 10-15 systems every couple of weeks?
I will sincerely appreciate all suggestions and feedback on these topics, as well as pointers to any online information, books, etc. I really want to turn things around at this school — is that possible without a new building?
Sincerely,
Paul
--
Paul Milesi
Registered Piano Technician (RPT)
Piano Technicians Guild
(202) 667-3136
(202) 246-3136 Cell
E-mail: paul at pmpiano.com
Website: http://www.pmpiano.com <http://www.pmpiano.com/>
Address:
3000 7th Street NE, Apt. 204
Washington, DC 20017-1402
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