Mechanical Music Digest  Archives
You Are Not Logged In Login/Get New Account
Please Log In. Accounts are free!
Logged In users are granted additional features including a more current version of the Archives and a simplified process for submitting articles.
Home Archives Calendar Gallery Store Links Info
MMD > Archives > September 2004 > 2004.09.06 > 03Prev  Next


Don't Use Rubber Glue
By Don Teach

Currently I am rebuilding a Wurlitzer player piano.  This model had
the individual unit valves.  These are beautifully designed valves and
normally easy to restore and service.  The previous restorer used some
sort of rubbery type glue to seal every thing.

I have scraped, peeled, and tried to cut this stuff off.  I have tried
various chemicals to cut this rubbery glue and, no matter what approach
I use, it is a mess.  What should have been an easy straightforward
restoration job has turned into a time-consuming mess because someone
used this rubbery glue.  It would have been so much better had the
restorer used shellac like the original manufacturer.

We all have skeletons in our closet and now is a good time to start
by not adding to the closet.  Throw away the rubbery plastic glue that
someone in the past told you would seal this and that in a player
piano.  Do not use cork gaskets when leather works so well.  Please
use only hot hide glue to glue pneumatics back on their deck rails.

Yellow glue and the rubbery type glue make a mess.  Shellac makes
a great sealer.  If you don't have the book by Arthur Reblitz,
"Rebuilding the Player Piano", then get a copy.  Try to make your
rebuild a restoration job and not just a run-of-the-mill rebuild.

If you don't have time to do the job right the first time then when
are you going to have time to do the job right the second time.

Don Teach


(Message sent Mon 6 Sep 2004, 18:54:58 GMT, from time zone GMT-0500.)

Key Words in Subject:  Don't, Glue, Rubber, Use

Home    Archives    Calendar    Gallery    Store    Links    Info   


Enter text below to search the MMD Website with Google



CONTACT FORM: Click HERE to write to the editor, or to post a message about Mechanical Musical Instruments to the MMD

Unless otherwise noted, all opinions are those of the individual authors and may not represent those of the editors. Compilation copyright 1995-2024 by Jody Kravitz.

Please read our Republication Policy before copying information from or creating links to this web site.

Click HERE to contact the webmaster regarding problems with the website.

Please support publication of the MMD by donating online

Please Support Publication of the MMD with your Generous Donation

Pay via PayPal

No PayPal account required

                                     
Translate This Page