Don Teach remarked about clear vinyl tubing ...

> I seem to remember that it breaks down in composition, which
> oozes a sticky residue that really messes up a player piano.

In the early '70s Alan Lightcap restored a piano for me, and at my
specific direction he used TYGON brand Formula B-44-3 clear vinyl
tubing from Norton Chemical Co.

Our business used quite a lot of this material in one of our product
lines, so it was pretty convenient for me to obtain the sizes and
lengths that Alan specified.  I can remember very well discussing the
selection of material with the Norton sales representative, and
explaining the importance of selecting the correct tubing because of
the labor intensive aspects of replacement in the field, etc...

Norton officially recommended Formula B-44-3, in writing, with all
kinds of citations of it long history, and with lots of assurances of
its longevity and appropriateness for the piano application.

What a lot of baloney!  I got burned on this, as many others did.
The tubing began to ooze off the brass nipples, especially if there
was even the slightest pulling tension involved.  Like all the tubes
that connected the tracker bar and drawer components to the piano!
What a mess!

The guys in our lab identified the "ooze" as a combination of DBP
Di-Butyl Phthalate and DOP Di-Octal Phthalate, two very popular and
inexpensive plasticizers of the day.

I have had no reason to make inquiry as to what "improved" materials
might be available today, but would caution everyone to avoid formula
B-44-3.

Please share any success stories!  There are plenty of disaster
stories, like the time I visited some guy in Naples, Florida, who
had newspapers spread out under his piano to catch the dripping gop!

Best wishes, and Happy Holidays!

Jack "B-44-3" Hardman
Great Falls, VA