Pianotech

  • 1.  Looking for Plastic String Cover

    Posted 08-21-2019 14:27
    Hello folks,

    I went to UW-Madison School of Music and last time I was there I saw that the grand pianos in the practice rooms had thin but very rigid white plastic sheets that laid inside as string covers.  I've emailed the head technician and asked where I could purchase some of this material and he said his student help (who has long graduated) found it locally in Madison, WI (not sure what store or what brand of product).  This white thin rigid plastic sheeting came in rolls that were 5 feet wide (as pianos are for the most part 5 feet wide inside).  I've searched but have not been able to find such sheeting online or locally in Farmington, NM.  I did however find and purchase a clear thick vinyl roll of 5 feet wide sheeting, but it was very droopy and it kept saggy onto the strings and dampers over time.

    So, does anyone know where I can find thin rigid plastic sheeting (comes in a roll) that is 5 foot wide?  I'd rather use that as the head tech at UW-Madison stated they were super inexpensive compared to typical piano string covers.  I just need it for debris coverage in public school grand pianos (so no staples, pencil leads, screw, erasers, etc. accumulate inside)

    Thank you.

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    Cobrun Sells
    cobrun94@yahoo.com
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  • 2.  RE: Looking for Plastic String Cover

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 08-21-2019 16:28
    You can put thin sticks across the struts to stop the drooping, or use magnets.
    Please report if you find the stiff sheets, sounds like a good solution.

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    Steven Rosenthal
    Honolulu HI
    808-521-7129
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  • 3.  RE: Looking for Plastic String Cover

    Member
    Posted 08-21-2019 18:27
    If it was rigid how is does it come in rolls ? I would think you are looking at something with a high mil rating. There are companies that wrap up boats for storage in the winter in boat yards so maybe that is a source to look into although I think it is a heat shrinkable product that goes on loose and tightens with hot air directed on it with special heat guns. You have to find a way to keep the material from sagging so some form of rib arrangement over the plate struts is essential. You can buy 4' x 8" panels of white plastic to make an insert out of which if over lapped you could protect everything. Keep in mind there could be some sound reduction and vibrations and sympathetic noises. As a dust and foreign object barrier it could do a decent job but it will not do much in the way of moisture absorption, cosmetics or good dust and dirt attraction. the problem with even woolen string covers are that people tend to remove them. They do a superior job and I have seen it up close and personal. I have one on my G2 , recently rolled back a Dawson cover on an S&S A that had enough dust bunnies on it to make a blanket. Way down in Hilton Head a customers K Kawai was saved by a woolen string cover when the drain pipe on the jacuzzi upstairs leaked and the water dripped down the cover absorbed all of the moisture. Soooo if the pianos have any value get them to buy the real thing instead of jerry rigging something. Plastic covers tend to collect moisture which is never good. A good way to keep pencils out of the action is to tie some pencils to strings . Food, drink, snacks should be forbidden in the practice room. Require students to post a security deposit of course someone will have to police the pianos every day for damage and the perps might not fess up. However if everyone on the log that day has to forfeit the $200 fee someone will rat

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    James Kelly
    Pawleys Island SC
    843-325-4357
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  • 4.  RE: Looking for Plastic String Cover

    Posted 08-22-2019 07:23
    If anyone is interested , i have a design for a debris catcher for the tuning pin area and fallboard gap on grands.  Keeps spills out of the action and pencils from going behind the fallboard. I lost interest in the marketing.....

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    Melissa Warren
    Lawrence KS
    785-749-5000
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  • 5.  RE: Looking for Plastic String Cover

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 08-22-2019 09:51
    Very interested, more info please!

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    Zeno Wood
    Brooklyn, NY
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  • 6.  RE: Looking for Plastic String Cover

    Posted 08-22-2019 10:11
    Im out on a trip. Will send next week
    Melissa






  • 7.  RE: Looking for Plastic String Cover

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 08-22-2019 10:15
    Thanks, looking forward to it.

    I know in the past that Juilliard had some sort of shallow tray that would fit under the music desk.

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    Zeno Wood
    Brooklyn, NY
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