Wichita PTG October 2015

Newsletter of the Wichita Chapter, Piano Technicians Guild
1 October 2015

The mission of the Piano Technicians Guild is to promote the highest possible standards of piano service by providing members with opportunities for professional development, by recognizing technical competence through examinations and by advancing the interests of its members

Officers

PTG Wichita Chapter officers

President Joe Wisner
Vice President Gary Telleen
Secretary David Norman
Treasurer Marty Hess
Newsletter Editor Roy Howard (with assistance from Kent Willis)

Next Meeting Thursday, November 12

For previous chapter newsletters see INDEX

The October meeting is cancelled

President's notes:
Greetings all!
Sorry we can't gather in October. In September we were glad to meet Eric Harmsen, the new tech at WSU!
Congratulations to Marty and Anna Hess, the final winners for the "2015 Beautify Bel Aire Campaign"!
This last month has been busy for all of us, and this Thursday was exceptionally complicated for everyone. I encourage you to attend the Olkahoma test prep class.

Joe Wisner, RPT

Joe Wisner

Asociación Mundial de Luthiers

Dr Howard is preparing conference in November in Ecuador to encourage piano owners to use their pianos and trust the piano techs to maintain them. Details and videos. Good news about the PIANOS FOR CHILE project: the Ministry of Culture is willing to pay the freight! Therefore, due to the paperwork, it will be a few months before we can ship. Keep an eye out for pianos we can send to Chile.

Technical

PVCE glue for the following piano repair applications: felt to wood, plastic to wood, and leather, buckskin, and Ecsaine (synthetic buckskin) to wood.
Technically PVCE stands for Polyvinyl Chloride Emulsion which Wikipedia describes as a "water miscible emulsion that polymerizes as it cures".

Quite simply, PVCE glue is a water based white glue with a medium thick viscosity for the applications listed above. Here are some tips and advantages for using PVCE.

One great advantage for key re-bushing is that PVCE remains on the shelf and in the depth of the mortise exactly where you place it. It won't continue to drip down as is often the case with hot hide glue.

TIP: Transferring the amount of glue needed for a job from the original container to a small glass jar will extend the shelf life by months.

TIP: When replacing keytops it is only necessary to apply glue to the key surface itself and not the top. The same is true of felt. It is only necessary to coat the wood portion.

TIP: Use denatured alcohol for excess glue clean up on keytop replacement jobs. Warm water is good but the alcohol is much, much faster.

TIP: When replacing music desk felt with Ecsaine, make sure that most of the surface is free of any kind of finish.

TIP: When replacing keytops. it is not necessary to clamp as long as you let the glue "set-up" for 30 seconds or so.

One excellent advantage in key recovering is that if you are installing the tops with the keys in the frame you have time (over a minute or so) to continue positioning the tops for even spacing while they are still setting up. With other glues such as contact cement, there is virtually no time.

Shelf life is 6 months to a year.

From the Pianotek Newsletter, Sep 28.

NEWS

Ivory Ban
You can sell the piano if you have appropriate documentation, but you can't repair or refurbish it with ivory. For details click on the Ivory Ban Information graphic.

Congratulations to Ann Fell for an award from The Kansas Author's Club for her recent publication, "In the Shadow of the Wind".

Update Your Info - Dues Statements Mail November 1 Now is the perfect time to make sure your PTG profile information is current. First, check your profile at www.ptg.org by clicking on "View My Profile" in the left menu. Some of this information is viewable by the public and includes things like services you offer, as well as your contact information. It can be updated by clicking the "edit" button by each section of information. Be sure to click on "Submit Changes" if you update any of the information.
This information carries over to your profile at my.ptg.org where there are additional options. To update profile information on the PTG discussion site, click on "MY PROFILE" in the top menu bar. Once there, you will see "gears" on the right hand side of the menu headlines that can be clicked to bring up options to edit, add and remove information.

TRAINING

Howard Piano Industries has a valuable discussion page - Forum

PianoTek Tek-Letter

Piano Technicians Journal Media on YouTube

For PTG member resources go to www.my.ptg.org

To answer questions about player pianos go to Player Care.com

On the Road to Oklahoma

Join us October 16 & 17, 2015 at Gilliam Music in Norman, OKfor the next Exam Prep on the Road.

If you are preparing to take the RPT exams, this is one of the best resources available. Cost is only $149 - but space is limited - so register by September 16 to guarantee your spot. Your registration includes: - 1-1/2 days of hands-on practice for RPT tuning and technical exams.
- Instruction, demonstration and guidance from certified examiners and expert instructors.
- An overview of exam skills and study tips.
- An opportunity to take the written exam.
- Take advantage of the discounted PTG rate at our featured hotel
Visit www.ptg.org/examprep to learn more. Register online or by calling 913-432-9975.

Are You a Professional?
"So learn this as a first lesson about life. The only successful beings in any field, including living itself, are those who have a professional viewpoint and make themselves and ARE professionals" — L. Ron Hubbard
A professional learns every aspect of the job. An amateur skips the learning process whenever possible.
A professional carefully discovers what is needed and wanted. An amateur assumes what others need and want.
A professional looks, speaks and dresses like a professional. An amateur is sloppy in appearance and speech.
A professional keeps his or her work area clean and orderly. An amateur has a messy, confused or dirty work area.
A professional is focused and clear-headed. An amateur is confused and distracted.
A professional does not let mistakes slide by. An amateur ignores or hides mistakes.
A professional jumps into difficult assignments. An amateur tries to get out of difficult work.
A professional completes projects as soon as possible. An amateur is surrounded by unfinished work piled on unfinished work.
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