Instructions for Micro-Fine PTFE Powder
Dec 09, 2023
Below you will find some uses for Micro-Fine PTFE Powder, storage instructions, and other information of the product.
About the Product
This product is an excellent substitute for talc and other lubricants often used on grand knuckles and keybeds since it is PTFE in a very fine powdered form. In the grand movement, the knuckle is the single most significant source of friction. Despite the use of graphite or polymer coatings on the repetition lever, friction levels are frequently high enough to induce squeaking and impair touch weight. When measuring down weight or up weight on grand actions, PTFE powder is especially useful because it reduces friction by about 2 grams compared to other lubricants and virtually eliminates static friction (reluctance of the action parts to start moving), so you don't have to tap the bench top to get the key moving. While dry lubricants like talc and One-Puff can help, none are as effective or long-lasting as the right grade of PTFE powder.
Storage
Keep the container tightly closed in a dry and well-ventilated place. Protect from contamination. Stable under recommended storage conditions.
Use for Lubricating Key Bushings
Make sure to clean and polish the keypins before lubricating the key bushings. Remove the key by lifting it straight off so that you don’t enlarge the balance rail hole. Locate the key bushing (at the front of the key where the keypin goes through).
The best way to apply the Micro-Fine PTFE Powder is with a pipe cleaner. Fold the pipe cleaner in half, dip it in the PTFE Powder, and insert it into the front rail bushing and balance rail bushing. Taking any thin tool (like the Grand Guide Rail Bushing Easer), use it as a burnisher to rub the powder into the bushings to fully lubricate them. Replace the key.
To see a more detailed demonstration of this process, watch this video:
Use for Lubricating Hammer Butt Leather
Using a glue brush, get a little bit of powder on your brush. Brush this onto the hammer butt leather. It is not necessary to remove the hammer butt from the action to do this but you will want to unhook your bridle strap to drop the whippens so you can reach. After brushing on the PTFE powder, take a thin tool (like the Grand Piano Guide Rail Bushing Easer) and use it as a burnisher to rub the powder into the bushings to fully lubricate them. If as you’re going through the hammer butt felts you see one that is very wore, you will want to replace that.
Use for Lubricating Whippen Heel Felts
Since the whippen heel felts are located on the underneath of the action, having the Vertical Upright Piano Action Cradle will make the job much easier. It easily turned the action unto it’s back so that you can access the bottom. If there are deeps groves from sitting on the capstan, you will probably want to replace the felts. Take a glue brush and dip it into the powder. Then, brush the powder onto the felt and burnish it with a thin tool (like the Grand Guide Rail Bushing Easer).
To watch a more detailed demonstration of these processes, watch this video:
