Discussion Posts

I believe the 444a has a much stronger smell but it may be the other way round. ------------------------------ David C. Brown RPT Garland TX tunermandb88.com ------------------------------

I've used Elmer's School Glue for years without any problems. It's water soluble and will adhere to the residue of the old heat activated glue you find on a lot of mid 20th century keyboards. I remove the old bushings with cheap vodka with a little wallpaper ...

"I squirt a trail of adhesive the diameter of a wooden pencil lead on the strip of bushing cloth.  Spread it out with an artist's palette knife and use a bushmaster with Spurlock cauls to insert it into the mortise. "  Seems to me this method would ...

Hi, all. Does anyone know how to remove and disassemble Steinway New York D locking casters so I can service the bearings? TIA Dave ------------------------------ Dave Conte, RPT Resident Technician The University of Tennessee Knoxville TN (817) ...

Thank you Paul and Paul! ------------------------------ Andrew Warden Evanston IL (224) 420-1773 ------------------------------

Any techs serving the Keene, NH area? This is a bit far for me and I have someone looking for service. Thanks. ------------------------------ Don Dalton Chester VT ------------------------------

I typically split the hammers off with diagonal cutting pliars, but I have extracted hammers that I needed to save using a punch. I made an anvil out of a wood block in a vise with a hammer shank sized hole (oversized) and used a punch made from an appropriately ...

I would check the key bed, especially any shims or wedges that attach the keybed to the plate.  Also, it has been demonstrated that because upright pianos have four wheels, an uneven floor can stress the structure of the piano and even affect the tuning.  ...

Maybe case side(s) are loose?

Yes I completely agree with the heating of the heads exactly as David Love has perfectly described-using this method I have never had a shank split, although I agree with Fred that it's always a very slight risk if using the cutters. But again once the ...

A heat gun is efficient and fast. Heat the joint from the top and bottom.  Keep the heat gun moving. Don't burn the shanks. A regular pair of extractor pliers is all you need. You can often do one full section at a time, certainly half, it doesn't matter ...

Cold hide glue for decades now. It's basically hide glue with urea. It's the right consistency. It holds fine for bushings. The trick is learning how much is too much or too little. That doesn't change with the type of glue you use. If you get squeeze ...

Hi Dave,  I second Kevin's suggestion -- using a heat gun on 1-4 hammers at a time, then plucking them off with an hammer extractor plier. At least on the Hamburg grands, that method works well and it is very fast. I haven't timed myself, but 10-15 ...

Hot hide for me. 47 years and counting. I do add a little urea for retardation. Just enough to make my Bushmaster process efficient. I have to remind myself to dump the glue afterward so I don't "forget" that it is retarded (i.e. altered). Made that mistake ...

I don't do that.  I found that paint on the damper heads sometimes started to come up so I gave up soaking.  I just put them in a bench vice upside down and remove the old felt with a sharp chisel.  Comes off easily along with the glue.  While the damper ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_RgIOwhaGY Any theories?  Is something rolling back and forth, in and out of a position where it obstructs dampers??  Where? ------------------------------ Andrew Warden Evanston IL (224) 420-1773 ---------------- ...

In a twist of the free piano scam I received an email for a free Cello. The owner said she can no longer play due to a non-cancerous tumor on her palm and wants it to have a good home. Have any PTG members gotten the same type email ? I person I know ...

The 1926 Chickering catalog includes the model K 6'6" grand. The scale description for this piano is probably 123, which can be confirmed with photos of the belly. The string scales available from the Paul Monachino collection that I obtained do not ...

Thanks Edward and Ben, I’ll use your input and go over my process, see if I can reduce the mortise swelling.

Hi, Teri, Do you remember Dennis Haley covers, which started out as Covers by Jill? I’ve used their covers for 20 years. They’ve retired now and their daughter Guye Michaels has been making the covers for several years. I’ve used them and they’re the ...

I ordered a cover in October. Clark told me then they were at 8 weeks delivery time. He responded quickly by email though.

What about dealing with swollen mortises and key-buttons after bushing removal? Spurlock recommends using a sizing caul while the key is still wet. I have never done this and fear key splittage. But I'm not against trying it. hmm, this is ...

A box of these just landed in my hands. My intention is to recycle the leads and trash the rest.  If anyone here in Canada wants them, just ask. ------------------------------ Floyd Gadd RPT Regina SK (306) 502-9103 ------------------------------

I use an eye dropper to drip vinegar on the felts. It's all natural and way safer than wallpaper remover, and won't damage the paint. It’s considerably cheaper too. It takes about 15 minutes to do, then let it sit for about half an hour or so. When you ...

Hi Edward, Thanks for the tips and the reminder to use the mortise depth reamer at the balance rail hole! What about dealing with swollen mortises and key-buttons after bushing removal? Spurlock recommends using a sizing caul while the key is still wet. ...

Tom writes: "Do you retard your hot hide glue at all, or use use it without salt or urea? Also, how do you like to remove bushings best? The traditional Dif wallpaper removal or steaming?" I don't add anything to the glue, and ...

Exactly what Ed said. There is no glue as stable and reversible as hot hide glue. Deb

I've been using Aleene's Tacky Glue for many years and have found no problem.  It acts just like PVC-E.  I squirt a trail of adhesive the diameter of a wooden pencil lead on the strip of bushing cloth.  Spread it out with an artist's palette knife and ...

I have found that this condition is the result of the mute rail being positioned too far from the strings. Gently bow the rail toward the strings and you should be able to adjust it properly. ------------------------------ Ted Kidwell, RPT California ...

Thomas, I have also been using hide glue for a long time and have found, as Ed stated, that problems come in two ways,  thickness of your glue mix and how you apply.   I have attached the Spurlock instructions.  While you will have to learn the hide ...

Thanks Ed! Do you retard your hot hide glue at all, or use use it without salt or urea? Also, how do you like to remove bushings best? The traditional Dif wallpaper removal or steaming? kind regards, Tom

If your hot hide glue is making a ridge it is too thick and there is too much of it in the mortise. I have been using it for many decades without problems, and it is the easiest to remove when it is time to rebush,(university pianos need that). ...

It is easy if you happen to have the right tool, a pliers design Jurgen used to sell from pianoforte supply. but that is no longer available anywhere. Also not so hard if you have the more archaic Hale tool, plier/gear design, made to remove both grand ...

i think the correct link is CHICKERINGFOUNDATION.ORG ------------------------------ James Kelly Owner- Fur Elise Piano Service Pawleys Island SC (843) 325-4357 ------------------------------

The piano was built in 1924 when Chickering was part of the American Piano Company. Would have to do more research but it likely is 127. Scale 121 was the scale on the Chickering Quarter Grand which was a very small grand. Chickering had many models and ...

Thanks all for the info, Best, ------------------------------ Tom Wright, RPT ------------------------------

What key rebushing glue do you use, and why do you like it? And what do you think about Aleen's tacky glue for this? I'm slightly dissatisfied with hot and cold hide glue for this but I don't want to use something with other problems. I also have Roo-Glue ...

Hi Allan and others interested, please drop me an email. nate@reyburntools.com. ------------------------------ http://www.facebook.com/ReyburnPianoTech http://www.reyburntools.com ------------------------------

I say Yes…looking forward to it ! Allan

Hi everyone, We're working on a new part for the CyberHammer design. I've been using it personally for about a year now, but I'd like some more testing before producing it in quantity. I need a couple experienced impact tuners to test drive the part and ...

Scott, You can check the spring on the bass side. Sometimes these do wear out, and after 42 years even more so. Replace it and that just might solve the issue if everything else is aligned. Joe Wiencek

Frank, I have indeed tried slicing the felt between unisons seeking the same desired result of not hitting neighboring strings. It didn’t work too well, and as you anticipated, it got chewed up rather fast. I think the best I’ve experienced is to have ...

Bill Shull is a very good source of historical information regarding Chickering Factory: http://www.shullpiano.com ------------------------------ David Stanwood RPT Stanwood Piano Innovations Inc. West Tisbury MA (508) 693-1583 -------------------- ...

Hi all,  I couldn't say no to a 6'6" Chickering grand in fairly good condition (SN 139318) that the owner paid me to take.  I'm storing it with a friend and piano enthusiast until I'm ready to refurbish it.  I know that Chickering was always changing ...

Hi All, I have tried repeatedly to contact Clark Dawson via both email and phone... no replies so far. Are they still in business? Do they not like people from Calif. LOL? Is there anyone else whose strings covers you like? Thanks ...

I tried clicking on the link, and had to sign in on my Google account.  It then said I had to get access.  I clicked on that and said an email would confirm.  Nothing, yet.  There is an icon in the header of this message to embed a video.  Probably best ...

Dave There is no easy or fast way to remove hammers from shanks. Not only do I remove one hammer at a time with the pliers you use, I take off all the shanks and flanges from the rail. It is my opinion that removing the hammers from the shanks with ...

https://drive.google.com/file/d/19C93jHH92h0aoaCHivsoeXg4K_QaqvSg/view?usp=sharing_eil_se_dm Google Google Drive: Sign-in Access Google Drive with a Google account (for personal use) or Google Workspace account ...

Dave, SOME hear will definitely help. Use a heat gun focussing on the hammer of course, not the shank. They should pop off pretty easily with the extracting tool. You may only be able to warm up and remove 3 or 4 at a time, but you will get the feel for ...

Replacing hammers on a D, and needs to happen quickly.  What's the best way to remove D hammers, keeping the flange & shank. What kind of the glue does the factory use?  Will using a heat gun help? I've always used the typical plyer hammer extractors, ...