Has anyone any ideas what to do about squeaky piano stools? We've got an adjustable duet stool which we've had about 4 years but it's now got a terribly annoying squeak - you don't even have to move very much for it to start up! We've tried the obvious things - WD40, loosening screws, tightening screws etc. but nothing seems to make any difference.

Any ideas?

Rather than metal-on-metal friction, it might be metal-on-wood, or even wood-on-wood. My piano pedal mechanism often does this when the weather changes and there's no metal at all where it squeaks. It's the only wood I use WD40 on!

WD40 isn't really a lubricant - it's a water dispersive. You could try graphite. Rub a soft pencil on where it moves. Or use a candle.

If it's a loose peg or something, you could try re-packing the hole with "plastic wood" from the DIY shop - the stuff you use to cover nail heads in wood work. - Or make your own with sawdust and glue.

Thanks for your suggestions; I shall have another look!

I sense a business opportunity.

Every adjustable piano stool I have ever seen (heard ?) squeaks to some degree.

Now: what price premium for VH2's non-squeaking piano stool over the usual rodent-imitating kind ??

If you could design one tough enough for heavy, figety teenagers - one that doesn't either sqeuak or off which the legs don't come, I will sign up at once.

What really gets me is what I call the four octave scale b-u-m shift !

Candle wax is what my tuner used on the rod controlling the dampers when it was squeaking.

Or is it OK to use talc?

I doubt it would be much use. Candle wax is probably the best lubricant to use on any wood-to-wood mating surfaces - Just try it on the drawer runners of traditional furniture!

Thanks I will try that on my own squeaky stool, thereby avoiding the old lady scent of talc as well!

Everything in our house that runs smoothly and soundlessly usually has teflon bicycle spray/lube to thank !

Graphite works best when the atmosphere is arrid dry or or if there are sub zero temperatures. But as you may imagine it gets everything filthy and I would be reluctant to use it on your steinway or on your antique stool.

Never use oil on wood steinway users as it stains, warps wood and attracts dust which gets filthy and this eventually requires specialist cleaning. Either natural or synthetic oil for metal or hard plastic parts.

Always, always use beeswax on wood and joints which have metal to wood connections. The wax stops these annoying squeeks and nourishes the wood at the same time.

Hope This Helps

Agreed beeswax is better than candle wax, but there's not much in it, either way - and candle wax is more readily available.

Unless you've got money to burn and beeswax candles