Pianotech

Many materials can be mixed to create new working qualities. The discussion of soundboard repairs reminded me.

-Book restorers mix PVC-E and CMC paste to produce a mixture that is both flexible (PVC-E) and water soluble (CMC paste). (Carbo-methylcellulose paste)

-Gorilla super glue is CA with tiny rubber grains added to make it shear and shock resistant.

-Hide glue modified by adding glycerin stays flexible, making it shear and shock resistant for hammer hanging.

-PVA glue spread in a saucer will thicken, can be mixed with fresh glue to produce a thickness desired for hammer hanging.

-Moisture "kicks" CA glue, so putting a thin coat of PVA glue on one surface and CA on the other will cause the glues to set quickly and retain some flexibility. Full drying takes a while.

-A small amount of "moisture from the mouth" wiped lightly on one piece of wood will help CA, placed on the other piece of wood, set more quickly.

-When old ivories are beginning to loosen in the front, thin CA will travel under, setting around the old hide glue/white pigment/cloth strip, rather like cement around pebbles. Then a thin bead of Gorilla CA along the front edge will add reinforcement, keeping the old ivory from popping loose.

-Liquid hide is used in furniture restoration because it will reactivate the old glue. In old uprights, drill holes through the beam joints, fill the joint with liquid hide glue and drive a dowel in with an uninhibited hard blow. It will work as a plunger to inject the glue into the joint.

-Alcohol's low surface tension lets it penetrate wool easily where water beads off. Add water and the alcohol becomes a "leader," leading the water into the wool, producing a result similar to steaming.

-Fine powders which are hard to mix into binding mediums will be "lead" into mixing if they are wetted first with alcohol.

-Refinishers know many more such admixtures.

Yes, it requires experience working with these materials to learn "the feel," but that is some of the beauty of craft.

Many materials can be mixed to create new working qualities. The discussion of soundboard repairs reminded me.

-Book restorers mix PVC-E and CMC paste to produce a mixture that is both flexible (PVC-E) and water soluble (CMC paste). (Carbo-methylcellulose paste)

-Gorilla super glue is CA with tiny rubber grains added to make it shear and shock resistant.

-Hide glue modified by adding glycerin stays flexible, making it shear and shock resistant for hammer hanging.

-PVA glue spread in a saucer will thicken, can be mixed with fresh glue to produce a thickness desired for hammer hanging.

-Moisture "kicks" CA glue, so putting a thin coat of PVA glue on one surface and CA on the other will cause the glues to set quickly and retain some flexibility. Full drying takes a while.

-A small amount of "moisture from the mouth" wiped lightly on one piece of wood will help CA, placed on the other piece of wood, set more quickly.

-When old ivories are beginning to loosen in the front, thin CA will travel under, setting around the old hide glue/white pigment/cloth strip, rather like cement around pebbles. Then a thin bead of Gorilla CA along the front edge will add reinforcement, keeping the old ivory from popping loose.

-Liquid hide is used in furniture restoration because it will reactivate the old glue. In old uprights, drill holes through the beam joints, fill the joint with liquid hide glue and drive a dowel in with an uninhibited hard blow. It will work as a plunger to inject the glue into the joint.

-Alcohol's low surface tension lets it penetrate wool easily where water beads off. Add water and the alcohol becomes a "leader," leading the water into the wool, producing a result similar to steaming.

-Fine powders which are hard to mix into binding mediums will be "lead" into mixing if they are wetted first with alcohol.

-Refinishers know many more such admixtures.

Yes, it requires experience working with these materials to learn "the feel," but that is some of the beauty of craft.

Many materials can be mixed to create new working qualities. The discussion of soundboard repairs reminded me.

-Book restorers mix PVC-E and CMC paste to produce a mixture that is both flexible (PVC-E) and water soluble (CMC paste). (Carbo-methylcellulose paste)

-Gorilla super glue is CA with tiny rubber grains added to make it shear and shock resistant.

-Hide glue modified by adding glycerin stays flexible, making it shear and shock resistant for hammer hanging.

-PVA glue spread in a saucer will thicken, can be mixed with fresh glue to produce a thickness desired for hammer hanging.

-Moisture "kicks" CA glue, so putting a thin coat of PVA glue on one surface and CA on the other will cause the glues to set quickly and retain some flexibility. Full drying takes a while.

-A small amount of "moisture from the mouth" wiped lightly on one piece of wood will help CA, placed on the other piece of wood, set more quickly.

-When old ivories are beginning to loosen in the front, thin CA will travel under, setting around the old hide glue/white pigment/cloth strip, rather like cement around pebbles. Then a thin bead of Gorilla CA along the front edge will add reinforcement, keeping the old ivory from popping loose.

-Liquid hide is used in furniture restoration because it will reactivate the old glue. In old uprights, drill holes through the beam joints, fill the joint with liquid hide glue and drive a dowel in with an uninhibited hard blow. It will work as a plunger to inject the glue into the joint.

-Alcohol's low surface tension lets it penetrate wool easily where water beads off. Add water and the alcohol becomes a "leader," leading the water into the wool, producing a result similar to steaming.

-Fine powders which are hard to mix into binding mediums will be "lead" into mixing if they are wetted first with alcohol.

-Refinishers know many more such admixtures.

Yes, it requires experience working with these materials to learn "the feel," but that is some of the beauty of craft.