CAUT

Greetings,

It has "been a minute" (read: DECADES) since I last replaced wippen heel cloths (AKA capstan cloths). Back then, under the tutelage of my first master of high-end piano work, Keith Hardesty (OBM), after thoroughly cleaning off the remnants of the previously used glue and cloth, we would use a hot glue gun to attach one end of the replacement cloth on each wippen heel. Glue gun glue sets quickly so, once through, we would go back and glue down the other ends, maintaining tension on the cloth until the glue sets (a matter of seconds, as I recall). Before endeavoring to do this again after all these years, thought I would inquire if anyone has experience to support a different adhesive for this and/or a different protocol.

Thanks,

Alan

Greetings,

It has "been a minute" (read: DECADES) since I last replaced wippen heel cloths (AKA capstan cloths). Back then, under the tutelage of my first master of high-end piano work, Keith Hardesty (OBM), after thoroughly cleaning off the remnants of the previously used glue and cloth, we would use a hot glue gun to attach one end of the replacement cloth on each wippen heel. Glue gun glue sets quickly so, once through, we would go back and glue down the other ends, maintaining tension on the cloth until the glue sets (a matter of seconds, as I recall). Before endeavoring to do this again after all these years, thought I would inquire if anyone has experience to support a different adhesive for this and/or a different protocol.

Thanks,

Alan

Don't forget the little 'helper' felt, usually red, underneath the thicker main felt. Helps to maintain rounded cushion longer. You will see this on older Steinway parts.

Omitted sadly by most vendors today.

Greetings,

It has "been a minute" (read: DECADES) since I last replaced wippen heel cloths (AKA capstan cloths). Back then, under the tutelage of my first master of high-end piano work, Keith Hardesty (OBM), after thoroughly cleaning off the remnants of the previously used glue and cloth, we would use a hot glue gun to attach one end of the replacement cloth on each wippen heel. Glue gun glue sets quickly so, once through, we would go back and glue down the other ends, maintaining tension on the cloth until the glue sets (a matter of seconds, as I recall). Before endeavoring to do this again after all these years, thought I would inquire if anyone has experience to support a different adhesive for this and/or a different protocol.

Thanks,

Alan

Greetings,

It has "been a minute" (read: DECADES) since I last replaced wippen heel cloths (AKA capstan cloths). Back then, under the tutelage of my first master of high-end piano work, Keith Hardesty (OBM), after thoroughly cleaning off the remnants of the previously used glue and cloth, we would use a hot glue gun to attach one end of the replacement cloth on each wippen heel. Glue gun glue sets quickly so, once through, we would go back and glue down the other ends, maintaining tension on the cloth until the glue sets (a matter of seconds, as I recall). Before endeavoring to do this again after all these years, thought I would inquire if anyone has experience to support a different adhesive for this and/or a different protocol.

Thanks,

Alan

Yes Fred, I would have guessed that you use hide glue.

When gluing the second end of the cloth, any idea of how much time thick hide glue needs to set until it will hold the cloth under tension?

Thanks,

Alan

Greetings,

It has "been a minute" (read: DECADES) since I last replaced wippen heel cloths (AKA capstan cloths). Back then, under the tutelage of my first master of high-end piano work, Keith Hardesty (OBM), after thoroughly cleaning off the remnants of the previously used glue and cloth, we would use a hot glue gun to attach one end of the replacement cloth on each wippen heel. Glue gun glue sets quickly so, once through, we would go back and glue down the other ends, maintaining tension on the cloth until the glue sets (a matter of seconds, as I recall). Before endeavoring to do this again after all these years, thought I would inquire if anyone has experience to support a different adhesive for this and/or a different protocol.

Thanks,

Alan

Yes Fred, I would have guessed that you use hide glue.

When gluing the second end of the cloth, any idea of how much time thick hide glue needs to set until it will hold the cloth under tension?

Thanks,

Alan

Greetings,

It has "been a minute" (read: DECADES) since I last replaced wippen heel cloths (AKA capstan cloths). Back then, under the tutelage of my first master of high-end piano work, Keith Hardesty (OBM), after thoroughly cleaning off the remnants of the previously used glue and cloth, we would use a hot glue gun to attach one end of the replacement cloth on each wippen heel. Glue gun glue sets quickly so, once through, we would go back and glue down the other ends, maintaining tension on the cloth until the glue sets (a matter of seconds, as I recall). Before endeavoring to do this again after all these years, thought I would inquire if anyone has experience to support a different adhesive for this and/or a different protocol.

Thanks,

Alan

Yes Fred, I would have guessed that you use hide glue.

When gluing the second end of the cloth, any idea of how much time thick hide glue needs to set until it will hold the cloth under tension?

Thanks,

Alan

Greetings,

It has "been a minute" (read: DECADES) since I last replaced wippen heel cloths (AKA capstan cloths). Back then, under the tutelage of my first master of high-end piano work, Keith Hardesty (OBM), after thoroughly cleaning off the remnants of the previously used glue and cloth, we would use a hot glue gun to attach one end of the replacement cloth on each wippen heel. Glue gun glue sets quickly so, once through, we would go back and glue down the other ends, maintaining tension on the cloth until the glue sets (a matter of seconds, as I recall). Before endeavoring to do this again after all these years, thought I would inquire if anyone has experience to support a different adhesive for this and/or a different protocol.

Thanks,

Alan

Thanks for this, Norman.

Do you feel that without the rubber band, the tension in the heel cloth would not have been maintained?

Alan

Yes Fred, I would have guessed that you use hide glue.

When gluing the second end of the cloth, any idea of how much time thick hide glue needs to set until it will hold the cloth under tension?

Thanks,

Alan

Greetings,

It has "been a minute" (read: DECADES) since I last replaced wippen heel cloths (AKA capstan cloths). Back then, under the tutelage of my first master of high-end piano work, Keith Hardesty (OBM), after thoroughly cleaning off the remnants of the previously used glue and cloth, we would use a hot glue gun to attach one end of the replacement cloth on each wippen heel. Glue gun glue sets quickly so, once through, we would go back and glue down the other ends, maintaining tension on the cloth until the glue sets (a matter of seconds, as I recall). Before endeavoring to do this again after all these years, thought I would inquire if anyone has experience to support a different adhesive for this and/or a different protocol.

Thanks,

Alan

Thanks for this, Norman.

Do you feel that without the rubber band, the tension in the heel cloth would not have been maintained?

Alan

Yes Fred, I would have guessed that you use hide glue.

When gluing the second end of the cloth, any idea of how much time thick hide glue needs to set until it will hold the cloth under tension?

Thanks,

Alan

Greetings,

It has "been a minute" (read: DECADES) since I last replaced wippen heel cloths (AKA capstan cloths). Back then, under the tutelage of my first master of high-end piano work, Keith Hardesty (OBM), after thoroughly cleaning off the remnants of the previously used glue and cloth, we would use a hot glue gun to attach one end of the replacement cloth on each wippen heel. Glue gun glue sets quickly so, once through, we would go back and glue down the other ends, maintaining tension on the cloth until the glue sets (a matter of seconds, as I recall). Before endeavoring to do this again after all these years, thought I would inquire if anyone has experience to support a different adhesive for this and/or a different protocol.

Thanks,

Alan

Yes Fred, I would have guessed that you use hide glue.

When gluing the second end of the cloth, any idea of how much time thick hide glue needs to set until it will hold the cloth under tension?

Thanks,

Alan

Greetings,

It has "been a minute" (read: DECADES) since I last replaced wippen heel cloths (AKA capstan cloths). Back then, under the tutelage of my first master of high-end piano work, Keith Hardesty (OBM), after thoroughly cleaning off the remnants of the previously used glue and cloth, we would use a hot glue gun to attach one end of the replacement cloth on each wippen heel. Glue gun glue sets quickly so, once through, we would go back and glue down the other ends, maintaining tension on the cloth until the glue sets (a matter of seconds, as I recall). Before endeavoring to do this again after all these years, thought I would inquire if anyone has experience to support a different adhesive for this and/or a different protocol.

Thanks,

Alan

Yes Fred, I would have guessed that you use hide glue.

When gluing the second end of the cloth, any idea of how much time thick hide glue needs to set until it will hold the cloth under tension?

Thanks,

Alan

Greetings,

It has "been a minute" (read: DECADES) since I last replaced wippen heel cloths (AKA capstan cloths). Back then, under the tutelage of my first master of high-end piano work, Keith Hardesty (OBM), after thoroughly cleaning off the remnants of the previously used glue and cloth, we would use a hot glue gun to attach one end of the replacement cloth on each wippen heel. Glue gun glue sets quickly so, once through, we would go back and glue down the other ends, maintaining tension on the cloth until the glue sets (a matter of seconds, as I recall). Before endeavoring to do this again after all these years, thought I would inquire if anyone has experience to support a different adhesive for this and/or a different protocol.

Thanks,

Alan

Thanks for this great idea, Rick!

I take it that you do not feel there is anything significant lost by the heel cloth not being stretched and, therefore, under tension?

Alan

Yes Fred, I would have guessed that you use hide glue.

When gluing the second end of the cloth, any idea of how much time thick hide glue needs to set until it will hold the cloth under tension?

Thanks,

Alan

Greetings,

It has "been a minute" (read: DECADES) since I last replaced wippen heel cloths (AKA capstan cloths). Back then, under the tutelage of my first master of high-end piano work, Keith Hardesty (OBM), after thoroughly cleaning off the remnants of the previously used glue and cloth, we would use a hot glue gun to attach one end of the replacement cloth on each wippen heel. Glue gun glue sets quickly so, once through, we would go back and glue down the other ends, maintaining tension on the cloth until the glue sets (a matter of seconds, as I recall). Before endeavoring to do this again after all these years, thought I would inquire if anyone has experience to support a different adhesive for this and/or a different protocol.

Thanks,

Alan

Greetings,

It has "been a minute" (read: DECADES) since I last replaced wippen heel cloths (AKA capstan cloths). Back then, under the tutelage of my first master of high-end piano work, Keith Hardesty (OBM), after thoroughly cleaning off the remnants of the previously used glue and cloth, we would use a hot glue gun to attach one end of the replacement cloth on each wippen heel. Glue gun glue sets quickly so, once through, we would go back and glue down the other ends, maintaining tension on the cloth until the glue sets (a matter of seconds, as I recall). Before endeavoring to do this again after all these years, thought I would inquire if anyone has experience to support a different adhesive for this and/or a different protocol.

Thanks,

Alan

I have found that hide glue works best, especially if you are in a controlled environment such as your shop. I understand why people would use other glues if in the clients Living room. I have reversed many sets of cloth, leather, or felt when someone used a hot glue gun. In my opinion the glue in a hot glue gun is too thick even when hot, and it cools before it can penetrate cloth, leather, or wood making for a weak glue joint at best. Electrical tape works well when gluing odd shaped parts and has some stretch and pull to it similar to an elastic. Glue the red piece of cloth in the middle, a line of glue on the inside corners of the wippen heal, use an inch of electrical tape and let it set overnight, peel the tape and it is perfect.

Greetings,

It has "been a minute" (read: DECADES) since I last replaced wippen heel cloths (AKA capstan cloths). Back then, under the tutelage of my first master of high-end piano work, Keith Hardesty (OBM), after thoroughly cleaning off the remnants of the previously used glue and cloth, we would use a hot glue gun to attach one end of the replacement cloth on each wippen heel. Glue gun glue sets quickly so, once through, we would go back and glue down the other ends, maintaining tension on the cloth until the glue sets (a matter of seconds, as I recall). Before endeavoring to do this again after all these years, thought I would inquire if anyone has experience to support a different adhesive for this and/or a different protocol.

Thanks,

Alan

Greetings,

It has "been a minute" (read: DECADES) since I last replaced wippen heel cloths (AKA capstan cloths). Back then, under the tutelage of my first master of high-end piano work, Keith Hardesty (OBM), after thoroughly cleaning off the remnants of the previously used glue and cloth, we would use a hot glue gun to attach one end of the replacement cloth on each wippen heel. Glue gun glue sets quickly so, once through, we would go back and glue down the other ends, maintaining tension on the cloth until the glue sets (a matter of seconds, as I recall). Before endeavoring to do this again after all these years, thought I would inquire if anyone has experience to support a different adhesive for this and/or a different protocol.

Thanks,

Alan

Hi Allen, I hot hide glue the ends of the cloth to the heel flat and then pull the cushion strip through of a chosen thickness.

All the best

Greetings,

It has "been a minute" (read: DECADES) since I last replaced wippen heel cloths (AKA capstan cloths). Back then, under the tutelage of my first master of high-end piano work, Keith Hardesty (OBM), after thoroughly cleaning off the remnants of the previously used glue and cloth, we would use a hot glue gun to attach one end of the replacement cloth on each wippen heel. Glue gun glue sets quickly so, once through, we would go back and glue down the other ends, maintaining tension on the cloth until the glue sets (a matter of seconds, as I recall). Before endeavoring to do this again after all these years, thought I would inquire if anyone has experience to support a different adhesive for this and/or a different protocol.

Thanks,

Alan