Hi all,  In response to John Neiswinger's post yesterday I'd like
to put in my two cents.  On my stack (no brand stated, probably late
Aeolian) the pneumatics were glued directly to the deck and were
a real pain to remove.  On advice of a professional rebuilder I placed
a paper (cardboard) gasket on the stack.  It costs nothing and works
great: just wet the cardboard, apply white glue to the stack (don't
hate me now, it wasn't my idea, but okay, I did it anyway) and glue
the paper on while wet.  In drying the paper tightens to form a
perfectly flat surface.  After that I cut out the holes (don't forget!)
and I glued the pneumatics on using hot hide glue.

In my recent project, a Hupfeld Phonola, the pneumatics were glued
to a leather gasket originally, making it very easy to remove.  I'm
putting the cardboard on this one too.

I only wonder why cardboard wasn't used originally.  Is it a bad idea,
or is it just simply not working with hide glue alone as it will never
form a flat surface then?  (Just assuming this, I didn't test it.)
Does somebody have an answer or idea?

Regards from the Netherlands,
Niels Berkers