Fixing a pedal squeak . . . and more

[alzado]

This morning I noticed the sustain pedal was beginning to squeak.  This seems to start up once a year or so.

I went into the cupboard and got my trusty can of "3-in-1 oil" and applied a very small amount to the pivot point at the rear of the pedal.  Problem solved.

The only reason I post this on the forum is that I suggested the same remedy to someone else with a squeaking pedal -- i.e., a drop of oil -- in the past on this forum.  Several piano technicians wrote in rather upset, roundly castigating me for giving such poor advice.  Well, I stand by my guns.  A drop of oil works. 

When it comes to calling a technician to the house, I will first try some simple solution.  If this does NOT work, I then am happy to pick up the phone. However, a small drop of oil may be all the pedal needs.  I never heard that a small drop of good-quality oil on a metal bearing surface would injure anything.

Any other opinions?   Am I supposed to wear sackcloth and ashes?

[timothy42b]

My digital piano was driving me nuts this week, squeaking when the keys went down.

Then I noticed it happened pressing on the board before the key.  Turned out the screws holding the stand to the piano were loose, and tightening them up fixed the problem.