Polylon
By D. L. Bullock
This was
originally published on Mechanical Music Digest in 1998. Copyright D.L. Bullock
1997-2002 (Message sent Tue 29 Jul 1997)
> In
relation to the organ work I've witnessed, it's glued using PVC
> glue, which is possibly why Mr. Bullock used the adjective
"dreaded"
> in his text (or was that because of it's close kinship to Perflex?).
I used the
term "Dreaded Polylon" because I have spent more time in the last 15
years RE-Restoring instruments rebuilt with Polylon/Perflex than I have spent
restoring original leather and zephyr untouched instruments.
These include
pipe organs that were rendered useless in less than 12 years by the unholy holes
in Polylon creases. I have replaced Polylon in red, yellow, blue, purple/gray,
black and several others. I have samples of the cloths I took off after 5-12
years of use and they all show the poly falling off the nylon at all creases and
corners.
The only
Polylon I have not yet had trouble with is the solid purple both sides that
American Piano Supply sells. I was once talked into using it by a previous boss,
but I no longer use it. I only use what I have left to seal seams, holes, etc.
I am tempted
to use it in the 1907 Apollo Melville Clark with spring wound roll drive now in
my waiting list. It has those funny little popsicle-stick pillow pouches. This
is the first unit where the player was installed into the piano and called the
"inner player", and later player piano.
Yes, PVC glue
is obnoxious to get off, but I just submerse the glued item to be re-restored
into Lacquer thinner until I can easily rub the PVC_E off the pieces with my
fingers.
Ask me why my
shop never uses any plastic of ANY kind. We use no modern materials that have
not been tested for at least 50 years. No contact cement...it falls off in 5-10
years and turns dark brown, too. No hot glue guns, except for hanging hammers,
but none of it stays in the piano. We use some PVC-E glue. No polyurethane
varnish, it rots the wood from the inside out. The reason is we have to stand
behind our warranty for five years.
Now you all
think I am crazy, don't you?
D. L. Bullock
Piano World St. Louis