Is there any reason that a good quality packing leather could not
be used for valve facings?  I am currently working on an older model
Autopiano with the outside secondary valves which thread on to the
shaft.  Typically, I would use a medium thick hairsheep leather to face
them.  I always have to be careful to sand the shiny side smooth so
that it will properly adhere to the new fiber disk.

The latest order of packing leather I received from Player Piano
Company has a very fine nap one side which is almost as fine as the
hairsheep.  Since it is not shiny on either side, it will take glue
well and is less expensive than the hairsheep.  In addition, I believe
Reblitz's book cautions that goatskin is more corrosive to metals than
cowhide.

Is there any reasons that I would not want to use this packing leather
as valve facings?

Sincerely,

Joel C. Cluskey - Cluskey's Piano Works
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania  (Go Steelers!)