At the risk of starting another repetitive hashing out of the pros
and cons of 'new technology' player piano restoration materials vs.
'old technology' materials, I shall submit a question.

I'm redoing a player stack that was previously restored and the cloth
has aged and perforated.  Unknown exactly when the last restoration
was done, but my guess is the 1980s.  The biggest headache with this
job is that everything has been treated in one way or another with
what I take to be RTV, but since I don't use it, I'm not sure.

It acts like bad bathtub silicone caulking.  It gums up when sanded
(though it does eventually all come off).  It's clear.  It has been
used in this job as sealant, adhesive, gasket rejuvenator, screw hole
repair, and finish.  It has multiplied by twofold every job of the
restoration.  My long-term reward will be that when it is finished,
it will be back in the condition it came from the showroom in, and
is held together with the 'right stuff'.

So my question is, is this RTV?  If not, what is it?  It may be that
whatever this is, is a panacea for all ills, but it is dreadfully
tedious for the next poor sucker who has to undo it.

Skip Downing