[pianotech] piano behavior - shrinking with H20 & alcohol

[David Skolnik]

I don't get what's going on.  I sent the first post with the current 
subject on 11/21.  The next post to that thread that I received was this:

>Date: Fri, 25 Nov 2011 08:49:42 -0500
>From: richarducci at comcast.net
>Subject: Re: [pianotech] piano behavior - shrinking with H20 & alcohol
>Sender: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org
>To: "pianotech at ptg.org" <pianotech at ptg.org>
>R
>What is the ratio of water to alcohol ?
>
>Rick Ucci
><http://Uccipiano.com>Uccipiano.com
>
>On Nov 22, 2011, at 9:42 AM, 
><mailto:chrisstor at aol.com>chrisstor at aol.com wrote:
>
>>Tom et al,
>>
>>The gas line antifreeze "Heet" is methyl alcohol.
>><http://www.goldeagle.com/brands/heet/default.aspx>http://www.goldeagle.com/brands/heet/default.aspx
>>
>>The MSDS information is here, indicating that it's methyl alcohol 
>>with apparently no other proprietary ingredients:
>><http://www.imperialsupplies.com/msds0055060.shtml>http://www.imperialsupplies.com/msds0055060.shtml
>>
>>The advantage of methyl alcohol is that it evaporates quickly, 
>>allowing you to do the center pin bushing sizing procedure with 
>>less time spent waiting for the centers to free up.  But the 
>>corresponding disadvantage is its flash point.  Probably not a 
>>smart idea to use a heat gun to hasten the drying process with methyl.
>>
>>Chris Storch

except, I never got Chris Storch's email.  Don't know if there were 
others equally misdirected.

First of all, apart from flammability, methanol is highly toxic and 
to be avoided, especially when working in an enclosed environment.

Then, Tom said:
>Rick,
>  I use denatured alc mixed 50 -50 with water.
>  Tom D.


There's this from WikiP:
>
>Grades of ethanol
>
>
>
>[<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki//w/index.php?title=Ethanol&action=edit&section=11>edit] 
>Denatured alcohol
>
>
>
>Main article: 
><http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki//wiki/Denatured_alcohol>Denatured alcohol
>
>Denaturing alcohol does not 
><http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki//wiki/Chemical_structure>chemically 
>alter the ethanol molecule. Rather, the ethanol is mixed with other 
>chemicals to form an undrinkable solution.
>
>Pure ethanol and alcoholic beverages are heavily taxed, but ethanol 
>has many uses that do not involve consumption by humans. To relieve 
>the tax burden on these uses, most jurisdictions waive the tax when 
>an agent has been added to the ethanol to render it unfit to drink. 
>These include 
><http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki//wiki/Bitterant>bittering agents such 
>as 
><http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki//wiki/Denatonium_benzoate>denatonium 
>benzoate and toxins such as methanol, 
><http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki//wiki/Naphtha>naphtha, and 
><http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki//wiki/Pyridine>pyridine. Products of 
>this kind are called denatured alcohol.[40][41]
>
>
>[<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki//w/index.php?title=Ethanol&action=edit&section=12>edit] 
>Absolute ethanol
>
>
>
>Absolute or anhydrous alcohol refers to ethanol with a low water 
>content. There are various grades with maximum water contents 
>ranging from 1% to ppm levels. Absolute alcohol is not intended for 
>human consumption. If 
><http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki//wiki/Azeotropic_distillation>azeotropic 
>distillation is used to remove water, it will contain trace amounts 
>of the material separation agent (e.g. benzene).[42] Absolute 
>ethanol is used as a solvent for laboratory and industrial 
>applications, where water will react with other chemicals, and as 
>fuel alcohol. Spectroscopic ethanol is an absolute ethanol with a 
>low absorbance in 
><http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki//wiki/Ultraviolet>ultraviolet and 
>visible light, fit for use as a solvent in 
><http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki//wiki/Ultraviolet-visible_spectroscopy>ultraviolet-visible 
>spectroscopy.[43]
>
>Pure ethanol is classed as 200 
><http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki//wiki/Proof_(alcohol)>proof in the 
>USA, equivalent to 175 degrees proof in the UK system.[44]

So when Tom says he's using denatured alcohol 50-50 with water, 
there's probably more water than he thinks.

Which still brings me back to the question I first asked:
>How do you know it's a case for shrinking?  Have you tried naptha 
>and exercising the part (taken off the rail)?  I know there's the 
>issue of retaining proper alignment, but I wonder what your 
>experience has been in controlling the amount of shrinkage.

Let's see what happens to our venerable list this time.

David Skolnik  RPT
Hastings on Hudson, NY
H

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