CAUT

  • 1.  Glue recommendations: your top 3?

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 09-27-2021 14:36
    Greetings all,
    You may have seen the Journal's recent series, What to Buy, which is intended for the beginning technician. We're seeking membership input for our January installment, which will feature glues and lubricants.

    What we'd like is your suggestion on the top three glues and lubricants you would recommend that a traveling technician take along for typical home-repair situations. The emphasis should be on the categories and uses, but brand names are fine as well.
    We'd appreciate a Word document submitted to us at either editor@ptg.org or ttt@ptg.org, but we'll be watching this forum as well.

    If you have a hi-res photo, please submit directly to us at one of the above email addresses. Photos posted to the web forums will not be suitable for print.

    A note for iPhone users: please check your format settings under "camera", and check "most compatible" instead of "high efficiency." This will yield a jpeg instead of Apple's proprietary HEIC format, which we can't use.

    We also welcome opinions concerning any of the previously printed installments. Got a particular brand/model of one of the tools mentioned? A tool mod? Snap a photo and send it in.

    thanks!

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    Scott Cole, RPT
    rvpianotuner.com
    Talent, OR
    (541-601-9033
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  • 2.  RE: Glue recommendations: your top 3?

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 09-28-2021 21:48

    Hi Scott, great topic. If interested in these I can definitely figure out the proper pic format but two particular glues come to mind that have become regular "staples" that I always keep on hand. 

    1- Aleen's craft glue which is super thick, white & has an INCREDIBLE life span even kept in a hot vehicle. This stuff is wonderful for gluing felt "shims" such as raising a rest rail, and also for an occasional damper felt install in the field, and so forth. 

    2- Super glue gel such as Loctite brand. This stuff comes in a bottle that is super easy to work with (just squeeze the two sides which are basically like"side buttons") ..is super easy to control, and is wonderful for certain things such as the occasional hammer separation on Baldwin Hamilton's, etc  Just use super glue accelerator as usual. It's easy to wipe off the excess and does not run down into the action. 

    3- Titebond wood glue of course!  (fresh!) in a small bottle

    I will definitely need to send pics of the super glue gel in particular...

    Best! Kevin F 



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    Kevin Fortenberry
    Registered Piano Technician
    Longview, TX 75602
    806-778-3962
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Glue recommendations: your top 3?

    Posted 09-28-2021 22:08
    I can't say enough good things about GluBoost CA. Luthiers use it to repair cracks in finishes. I've used it to repair finishes/dings on many pianos. The aerosol accelerator does not cause blushing and does not have an obnoxious odor.  It comes in various viscosities and a gel. Best stuff around.

    RooGlue is a viable replacement for PVC-E.

    Bolduc Wood Glue

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    Regards,

    Jon Page
    mailto:jonpage@comcast.net
    http://www.pianocapecod.com
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Glue recommendations: your top 3?

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 09-28-2021 22:50
    Jon, I'm so glad you brought up Roo Glue. But I can't wait to learn more about this amazing Super Glue you have found. Is it available online only??

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    Kevin Fortenberry
    Registered Piano Technician
    Longview, TX 75602
    806-778-3962
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Glue recommendations: your top 3?

    Posted 09-28-2021 23:50
    https://gluboost.com.  The Ultra Thin is great for treating tuning pins, so is the Thin. Their Fill & Finish (clear & black) are fantastic. Their other products to assist with finish repairs are real time savers.It also comes in a gel. The bottles are better than anything else and there are two styles of tips. Don't leave home without it.

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    Regards,

    Jon Page
    mailto:jonpage@comcast.net
    http://www.pianocapecod.com
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    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Glue recommendations: your top 3?

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 09-29-2021 23:06

    Glues:
    Fish glue from Lee Valley for all felt or leather to wood applications, as well as regluing loose hammer heads. Much like hot hide glue, except it stays liquid in its container, and has a very long shelf life (especially compared to liquid hide glue). Apply it to the wood and let it become tacky (1 minute) before applying the felt or leather to get quickest tack. Also works for gluing understring felt to the plate - if allowed to become tacky. Reversible with heat and moisture. (Also available from stewmac.com)

    CA, extra thin for tuning pins, various thicknesses with accelerator for all sorts of quick repairs. 

    Hot hide glue for shop work: hanging hammers, replacing various felts and leathers like dampers, wippen cushions, back check leather. Fast, reversible, no clamping.

    Lubes:
    Powdered teflon for felt and leather surfaces (especially key bushings and knuckles).

    McLube 444 for metal and wood (key pins, rubbing surfaces of grand key frames)

    Protek CLP for penetrating applications, like center bushings and pedal bushings.



    ------------------------------
    Fred Sturm
    University of New Mexico
    fssturm@unm.edu
    http://fredsturm.net
    http://www.artoftuning.com
    "We either make ourselves happy or miserable. The amount of work is the same." - Carlos Casteneda
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    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: Glue recommendations: your top 3?

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 09-30-2021 08:29
    I concur with Fred on all three of the glues listed.  I will add that Fish glue doesn't lose strength if it happens to freeze in your tool kit in the car overnight.  I realize that is less of a problem for techs in South Texas (except for last year) but it does happen a little further north.  Titebond doesn't  hold up well to freeze thaw cycles.

    Just my two cents worth.

    Norman Cantrell



    Original Message


  • 8.  RE: Glue recommendations: your top 3?

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 09-30-2021 10:55
    I guess I wasn't paying close enough attention. Scott asked for materials you'd take with you in your kit, so hot hide wouldn't fit the bill, unless you used something Ted Sambell wrote about. He described a jelled hide glue that came in a can, and could be made liquid by placing the can in hot water. No longer available commercially, but I might experiment with trying to do that. Not sure how long it would keep.

    I do carry a small bottle of Titebond (or equivalent), but have been using it less and less. Among other things, the spout becomes clogged and takes a lot of work to clean out. Mostly I hate following up, taking apart and redoing things glued with it. 

    I know Titebond became the universal glue for all purposes for most piano technicians starting in the 1980s, but I think it is time to retire it. Reversibility should be the rule whenever possible. CA meets that criterion, as it dissolves in acetone.
    Regards,
    Fred Sturm
    "I am only interested in music that is better than it can be played." Schnabel




    Original Message


  • 9.  RE: Glue recommendations: your top 3?

    Posted 09-30-2021 11:01

    This is really helpful and reliable info, especially the reminder about reversibility. Thanks.

    Laurence Libin

     




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