[pianotech] 3 tier gaskets for Simplex valves

[Duaine Hechler]

On 10/11/2011 06:57 PM, Ron Nossaman wrote:
>
> It occurs to me that this subject could be salvaged to someone's potential benefit with a bit more information.
>
> To those of you doing player work and need gasket sets, or otherwise needing to cut multiple copies of some relatively 
> soft substance, you aren't necessarily at the mercy of some supplier for availability. This is especially true in 
> one-off situations where you're faced with someone doing a custom run for you. Many of you out there have the 
> necessary equipment and skills to make your own dies, so here's another tool in your arsenal.
>
> Rule die is available as a moderately hard steel blade (Google it) that comes in yard long sticks. I use 0.030" thick 
> X nominally 1" wide single bevel die stock. I cut it with a Dremel cutoff wheel, and build the shape I want in a frame 
> of 1/2" Delignit scrap, bedded in epoxy once I'm happy with the build. If it's a die I plan on using more in the 
> future, I'll make an aluminum ejector plate to kick the gasket material out after punching. Otherwise, I'll fill it 
> with repeated punch strokes into the gasket material until the die fills up and I can easily pick out the last one. 
> Repeat as necessary until enough gaskets accumulate. The punch is mounted on a half ton arbor press for the run.
>
> The die can be bent cold to large radii, or heated for tighter controlled bends, though you don't want to blast all 
> the carbon out of it by heating it any hotter than necessary. Round cutters are available from the same source as the 
> die stock, or you can make your own with drill rod, drilling out the center and countersinking a bevel on the inside 
> to make a cutting edge.
>
> You can use the same processes to make custom dies to cut valve leather discs, felt punchings, with centered hole, to 
> whatever size you require, or whatever your (our) febrile little minds desire.
>
> I've always enjoyed building tools I otherwise couldn't justify buying, assuming they were obtainable anywhere at all, 
> and invariably learn something I find useful in entirely unrelated situations some time later. I recommend it.
>
> Now, good luck in finding gasket material to your specifications. That's another problem altogether.
>
> Ron N
Ron,

At least from my standpoint, your missing the point.

There is enough - necessary - repetitive work in rebuilding a player - that can't be farmed out, that time wasted on 
making your own gaskets (and similar parts) which could be better spent on doing something else that has to be done.

Before settling on my current - reputable - supplier of leather punchings and pouches, I bought all the tools and 
punches to punch my own stuff. After a couple of years of buying the leather - in skins -, I found a lot of leather was 
being wasted - which for me - is "throw away money". The little scraps of leather are so small, they can't be used for 
anything else.

Example, as it stands now, I am ready for the 3 tier gaskets - and - I am looking for a long term supplier.

With all this said, I know how to break down the parts to find all the gaskets, pouches and punchings and place an 
order. Usually, I have everything I need well in advance of really needing the supplies.

As it is, in my shop (basement), - 2 - players in various stages in rebuild (1 of which is on hold - client has no 
money), - 1 - pump organ in rebuild (which the player and reed organ, needs to be done by the end of the year) - and - 
just acquired another player stack that needs a repair estimate on.

All this on top of tunings, various service calls, family, maintaining my website - and - online store.

So tell me again, why I should do my own gaskets .....

Duaine

-- 
Duaine Hechler
Piano, Player Piano, Pump Organ
Tuning, Servicing&  Rebuilding
Reed Organ Society Member
Florissant, MO 63034
(314) 838-5587
dahechler at att.net
www.hechlerpianoandorgan.com
--
Home&  Business user of Linux - 11 years