Pianotech

I am wondering what I should put on the key pins as well as the leather bushings in an 1877 Bechstein to reduce friction ? I have a product called SlipKote I am thinking of using on the pins although I have used Flitz in the past. I read that Balistol is good on leather bushings

but I am thinking Teflon powder is safer applied with a pipe cleaner. If the bushings are tight can they be eased with key pliers, Flugelbauer tool or some other device ? 

The action is sluggish and I will likely have to do some key easing at the balance pin hole  I posted a similar post on the "In the Shop community earlier today with no response yet

------------------------------
James Kelly
Owner- Fur Elise Piano Service
Pawleys Island SC
(843) 325-4357
------------------------------

Greetings,

The following is a response shared by our venerable colleague, Ed Whitting, RPT. He has given his permission for me to share it here.

"This is regarding Leather Key Bushings. Why they worked in the first place is beyond me. Why they are put in as replacements is another puzzle to me. I have never been able to make them work as trouble-free as felt. I have tried everything under the sun to make leather as friction-free as felt and have not been successful. I put them in a U-1 Yamaha at Disneyland (Ragtime piano played all day and night). After three weeks, I was asked to take them out:  They were too hard on the hands of the players. In that single piano, I reduced the friction somewhat by using McLube 444 on the pins and bushings. 444 is not made anymore, as far as I know. McLube has a new product called Sail Coat. I have used it on two keyframes, and I like it very much; like 444, it bonds to metal IF it is applied according to the directions."

Beat,

Alan 

------------------------------
Alan Eder, RPT
Herb Alpert School of Music
California Institute of the Arts
Valencia, CA
661.904.6483
------------------------------

Alan Thank you for posting about the experience Ed had with leather bushings. Ironically I just bought some Neatsfoot oil and was going to experiment to try to soften the leather . I am talking about just a small amount applied to both leathers once I have a key off. I was able to spray Sailcote on the front keypins but I would have to uncouple all the keys to do the key pin at the balance pin. 

------------------------------
James Kelly
Owner- Fur Elise Piano Service
Pawleys Island SC
(843) 325-4357
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 08-18-2024 15:48
From: Alan Eder
Subject: Leather Key Bushings

Greetings,

The following is a response shared by our venerable colleague, Ed Whitting, RPT. He has given his permission for me to share it here.

"This is regarding Leather Key Bushings. Why they worked in the first place is beyond me. Why they are put in as replacements is another puzzle to me. I have never been able to make them work as trouble-free as felt. I have tried everything under the sun to make leather as friction-free as felt and have not been successful. I put them in a U-1 Yamaha at Disneyland (Ragtime piano played all day and night). After three weeks, I was asked to take them out:  They were too hard on the hands of the players. In that single piano, I reduced the friction somewhat by using McLube 444 on the pins and bushings. 444 is not made anymore, as far as I know. McLube has a new product called Sail Coat. I have used it on two keyframes, and I like it very much; like 444, it bonds to metal IF it is applied according to the directions."

Beat,

Alan 

------------------------------
Alan Eder, RPT
Herb Alpert School of Music
California Institute of the Arts
Valencia, CA
661.904.6483
------------------------------