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Thermal and pianos
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Louise
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Joined: Jun '09
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Posted 3 years ago
Thu Oct 15 2009 11:55:14
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Is it possible to thermal treat a house with a piano in it, and not destroy the piano in the process? Ditto for drums, a drum set and guitar, although these can be moved out more easily (unlike the piano). They are all used regularly, so quarantining them for an extended period of time isn't an option.
Any thoughts on this would be much appreciated.
Louise
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Bugbitten Meg
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Joined: Aug '09
Posts: 78offline
Posted 3 years ago
Thu Oct 15 2009 14:44:04
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If the finish on the piano is shellac, it melts just slightly and then re-hardens -- not a problem unless you leave anything on top of it (in which case it may not come off without removing a patch of shellac.)
I'd expect you'd at least need to re-tune; you're talking way more temperature variation than normal. Should you de-tune it first to minimize forces on it at the high heat? Or would that accentuate the problem?
Can your drum set be removed and bagged with a DDVP strip? Check back on the ddvp postings to see if the guy with the guitar ever posted about what he finally did and how it worked? I've had no problems with wood finish or the like from the no-pest strips, but I have no precision instruments. (If you do use them, follow all of the precautions -- the stuff works because it's a neurotoxin.)
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hathead
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Joined: Jun '09
Posts: 64offline
Posted 3 years ago
Thu Oct 15 2009 17:38:26
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we had thermal and i have a grand piano that i care a lot about
the thermal people wrapped the piano in insulating blankets
and aimed cooler air at the piano and monitored it for temp
it went up to 90 somethingyou run the risk of cracking the sound board with such intense heat
but if you think the piano is infested, then you will have to decide what to do
maybe chemical or vikane for the piano?
dunno, as moisture is not good either
maybe chemical dusts or vikane are the bestwe did not believe the piano had bugs in it - the legs are extremely slippery
high polish finish
too slippery to climb
plus i didn't play for a long time while we had the bugs
i didn't want to draw the bugs over there
and i kept our cats out of that room too... -
Louise
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Joined: Jun '09
Posts: 444offline
Posted 3 years ago
Wed Oct 21 2009 12:10:05
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Thanks for the input. If we *do* have bedbugs, I want to have a plan in place. I'm glad the piano won't be totalled by virtue of using thermal, if that's the route we choose. Unfortunately the piano is in our living room, although on the opposite side of the room from the couch.
I will definitely remember to remove the items from the top of the piano prior to any thermal treatment. That is *very* good information to have.
I'll try to find out more info on the tuning/detuning thing.
If I could find a bag large enough (and tough enough!), I could bag the drums with DVVP strips. The bass drum, of course, is the big question...that will take one big bag! The biggest problem is that the strip needs to stay in there for three weeks...I'd have some unhappy musicians if I told them they couldn't play for that long. If we have bedbugs, though, then what must be, must be.
Ah, but the wailing and gnashing of teeth...
Louise
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