Well Terry, I believe calcium chloride will attract moisture, so there could be a problem with rust and possibly sticking action centers at some point in the future. I am not sure that alcohol would completely removed all of the gunk. Your thought of replacing the 18 wippens and other parts is probably the right approach.. FYI up here in the wilds of northern Canada, we put calcium chloride on the roads to attract moisture and keep the dust down. We buy it in 50 pound bags. 8>) Terry Beckingham RPT At 03:36 PM 9/8/2010 -0400, you wrote: >Hello Esteemed Colleagues, > >Shortly before I arrived to tune a customer's Yamaha G2, she so kindly >decided to clear off the piano for me. Unfortunately, she apparently >had a vat of "Damp-Rid" desiccant on or near the piano and when she >moved it, she managed to spill some (my guess is about a cup worth) >into the piano (collected liquid and some solids). It spilled near the >center of the area behind the music rack - onto the strings just aft >of the dampers, seems to have missed a direct hit on the hammers, but >got the aft end of the wippens. Direct hit zones include hammer shanks >(but not hammers or knuckles), rear end of wippen assemblies, rear end >of keys, backrail felt, damper lift felt, and keyframe (rear piece). >Action parts on maybe 12 to 15 notes got the direct hit. About 18 >notes appear affected. Some indirect spray seems to have gotten onto 6 >to 8 hammers - I don't think they got the direct hit - I can't really >see any of the stuff on there, but when you rub those hammers with >your fingers, your fingers get sorta sticky. The liquid ran all the >way down the wippen action rail. > >The piano is in reasonable shape and is worth putting a few $$ into to >fix this. I figure about 18 wippens, affected back rail cloth and >damper lift felt need to be replaced. Hammer shanks, action rail, keys >and keyframe can be cleaned (the wooden parts will retain some >residual gunk, but I'm hoping that won't be a problem). > >Any thoughts on residual anhydrous calcium chloride on wooden parts? >Thoughts on small amounts of anhydrous calcium chloride on hammers? > >I can't imagine how to wash hammers - don't think you really want to >do that - at least not in water. Anhydrous calcium chloride is readily >soluble in water and alcohol. I wonder about alcohol? Any thoughts on >washing hammers in some way with alcohol, and what effects that may >have? > >I wonder about the strings at the location of the spill - I guess I >can wipe them down with a damp rag - there is rust at the spill >location. I wonder if any gunk is left on hammers, is that going to >corrode the strings there? > >I guess I can just go ahead and take my best stab at drawing lines on >what should be replaced, cleaned, etc., but I have to admit that I'd >be making a whole bunch of decisions with very little confidence. Any >thoughts would sure be appreciated. > >Terry Farrell > > > > > > > >Below is close-up of affected area. > > > > >
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