In the Digest from yesterday Hal Davis did write about the need for
disinfecting a piano, using an insecticide.  He informs us that he is
disinfecting any piano he is receiving, using an insecticide.

I'm having some problems with this method.  In the very first place:
as long as we do not operate a piano in tropical surroundings there are
rather few insects that may, eventually, become a problem:

  moths: they like felt, and specially in older instruments it's easy
  to see if they have been active, above all at the dampers or under
  the keys.

  wood-worms: easy to find out, most of the times by checking the back
  of the piano.

I must confess that I was not very often confronted with active moths
or worms.  As far as moths are involved: carefully cleaning the piano,
and replacing the damaged parts will do.  If in any doubt a mild
anti-moth (as used by grandmother) will do.

It's also easy to find out if any worm is still active: you will find
fresh "sawdust".  In such cases a stethoscope can be of help.  If no
sawdust is there, it's very probably there is no problem any longer.
In case of doubt however one could take a hypodermic syringe to fill
the holes with a (minimum of) poison.  Due to the fact that this poison
is absorbed almost at once by the wood, and is used in very small
quantities, the pollution is minimized.

It's possible to disinfect a piano (and other things, like furniture,
or even complete houses).  I would advise to have such thing done by
specialized, experienced firms, who operate under controlled and
law-regulated circumstances.

The do-it-yourself method, used by Hal Davis, is not only dangerous for
himself, but also very unfriendly for our environment.

If you do want to make absolutely sure there is no insect alive in a
piano, and do not want to spent money by hiring a professional, there
is a much better way: insects do breath, so they do need oxygen.  Build
your plastic tent, and replace the air, by filling this tent, for a
certain period, with nitrogen.  Keep the nitrogen pressure a little
higher as the air-pressure.  Not expensive, no pollution, no health
risks.

Jan Kijlstra