[pianotech] Ballistol Lube

[Paul McCloud]

Doug:
I've seen the effect that oil has on wood- it softens it and makes it weak.  I'd be interested to know if Ballistol does the same thing as oil.  Otherwise, it sounds good.  I've seen too many actions that somebody sprayed some oily who-knows-what on it, and it's still sluggish and the wood is saturated with it.  That wood is turned into mush.  Same for bridges.  There was this guy here who used to put oil everywhere, especially on bridges and bridge pins.  It would get on the hammers, and all that.  He ruined thousands of pianos.  But that's another story.  I'd need to know more about the effect of Ballistol before I'd go spraying it everywhere.  Back in the day, WD-40 was the soup de jour, and now we see the result of spraying it on everything.  
Just being cautious...
Paul McCloud
San Diego

----- Original Message -----
From: "Douglas Gregg" <classicpianodoc at gmail.com>
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Sent: Thursday, November 10, 2011 9:08:55 PM
Subject: [pianotech]  Ballistol Lube

First the disclaimer, I posted the Ballistol TT&T. This is the best
stuff I have ever used for almost anything that is sticky or squeaks.
It beats any silicone based lube and it really lasts. The spray can is
what I carry on the road. I buy them by the dozen.  It comes with a
thin straw to reach difficult places.  The bulk can comes in pints or
gallons. I recently bought a gallon. That gives you some idea how good
I think it is. I put the bulk Ballistol in an olive oil sprayer that
pumps up by hand with an up and down action of the top. You can get
one  at most cooking accessory stores.  The bulk liquid is a bit more
viscous than the spray can. You can dilute it with your favorite
solvent if you like, but you don't have to and I don't.  I use the
olive oil sprayer in the shop for action work.

With an old action on the bench, I will just make a continuous spray
over all the centers. That takes about a minute and you solve all
kinds of issues.  It is the best thing I have found for verdigris. It
works on all but the most stubborn old S&S model Vs. In the home, I
use it to free up any stuck or slow center or key bushing. One shot
and you are done. It saves so much time. Rarely do problems come back.

 Don't worry about getting it on felt or leather. It is safe for both.
For knuckles, I mix some MolyKote (molybdenum dioxide) powder with the
bulk form and use it to softens the leather and the Molykote is more
slippery than graphite. Don't add solvent here or it will harden the
leather. DAMHIK.  I put this on with a metal handled plumbers brush
sold for solder flux.

If I run across old hard dampers that don't respond to an emery board
filing, toothbrushing or needling, and I know the owner won't have
them replaced, I give them a shot of Ballistol. It softens the felt
and quiets them immediately. One caution, on bass strings, it will
dissolve the corrosion on the copper and will transfer the green
residue to the felt. Probably no problem on an old upright but not so
good on a nice new grand.  Also, if overdone, it can get into the
copper winding and could dampen the tone slightly. So go easy around
bass strings. On the good side, if you have a buzzing string that you
can't quiet short of replacing it, Give a small shot of Ballistol on
the ends of the winding and it will likely quit buzzing. It takes care
of buzzing in old spinet bass strings, etc. with no cost, and you are
a hero. The effect lasts too.

Use it on trap work too for squeaks,if for no other reason but to find
the squeak. A shot at each moving part will quickly find the culprit.
In most cases, it will cure it too.

I also use it on my van for squeaky door hinges, stiff door lock
tumblers or frozen ones,and those little bearing/wheels on sliding van
doors that make the door hard to close. Ballistol does not seem to
collect dirt either, so these bearings stay cleaner longer than with
WD-40 or silicone. I don't even buy WD-40 anymore. I haven't bought
any silicone based sprays in ages.

Concerning odor, it does not have a strong smelling solvent in the
spray can and has no solvent in the bulk can, so you are not going to
gas someones living room by using a lot of spray. It does leave an
odor. Initially, it is a bit like a wet dog smell but quickly changes
to a cedar oil-like smell that is not unpleasant. Owners will start
relating that smell to a smooth working action. LOL.

Ballistol is a light oil and will leave some oil in wood parts. If it
is a brand new white wood action in a showroom, use with care or be
aware that there will be a slight darkening of wood. No problem in old
pianos. It disappears in darker wood.

Ballistol is a household product in Germany. It has many other uses
too. An interesting one: it is antibacterial and will cure foot rot in
horses. It might even work on athlete's foot. Not sure about that. But
it was used to good effect in WWI and WWII on wounds as well as on
guns.

Once you try Ballistol, you will likely reach for it first and might
quit carrying any other lubes.

Doug Gregg
Classic Piano Doc
Southold, NY