For some rebuilders, contact cement and rubber cement is thought to be an
ideal glue.  However, if I can convince anyone not to use these products,
generally, I will try.  Pliobond has been a popular glue in pianos and
players for the last twenty years or so.  It has never failed to fail,
however, and removing it is a pain in the (shop).

I would love to hear from a chemist who has intimate dealings or who at
least understands the latex base this glue is made from.  I believe it
was originally designed for automotive gaskets.  Another loser is Carter
rubber cement, when used for players.  I don't think it was conceived or
designed for this, either.

My experience has been very negative with Pliobond in player work.  In
every case, the stuff gets powdery and self-destructs on wood.  I can't
help but believe that there are many different formulations and
characteristics of latex formulas.  Tiger Brand rubber shoe cement seemed
to me to be a good formulation of latex which lasted forever in shoe
repair, so why wouldn't it last forever in player pianos?  (Maybe it
does).

Is there such a thing as a chemical reaction between the wood and the
latex which causes such fast degeneration?  Do natural acids in wood have
an effect on all latex, or certain formulations more than others?

When pneumatic cloth is installed with rubber cement, I notice that long
before the rubber covered cloth has timed out, the cement already has --
probably ten years before.  After all, I don't see them until a
disgruntled owner has resold the instrument to somebody for scrap.  This
is such a waste in my opinion!

There is just no reason to restore a player, if you're only shooting for
about ten years or so.  Don't even bother.  A player piano is the most
durable, reliable, happy piece of machinery that I know about.  Think 60
years, guys.

I hope that those rebuilding their pianos realize that 20 years isn't
very long.  They should have their great-grandchildren visualized in
their heads as they are doing each pneumatic because that piano will
stand as a monument in their family to the care and foresight they
exercised.  "My great-grandpa rebuilt this here pianner, and this sucker
has been a-playin' since '97."  Pneumatics is the most reliable mechanical
system ever devised.

Craig Brougher

 [ Editors note:
 [
 [ Don Teach suggested the answer, and it's "Education".  Discussing
 [ what is good and what is bad, right here in the Digest, is education.
 [
 [ I'm not a technician and I'm not likely to do any more than simple
 [ repairs to my instruments.  By soaking up this education I can now
 [ discuss with my local tech how the big jobs will be done.  If a
 [ quick fix with rubber cement is suggested, I know enough to question
 [ "why", and then talk about better ways.
 [
 [ Educating the owners like me is just as important as educating the
 [ technicians, because if the owner doesn't appreciate the necessity of
 [ proper repair techniques, then the cheapest job will probably result.
 [
 [ Robbie Rhodes