If you have a hurdy-gurdy with keys that are becoming difficult to press, or if they are not falling back into place after being pressed, one of the first things you may hear suggested is peg soap.
But then you go online to buy some—and discover products called peg soap, peg compound, peg paste, and even peg dope. Are they all the same thing?
Not necessarily. And for sticky hurdy-gurdy keys, choosing the right product matters.
The short answer
If you’re trying to deal with keys that are sticking or not moving freely, look for a light peg soap/lubricating product, rather than reaching automatically for a heavy-duty peg compound or peg dope.
Peg soap is primarily intended to reduce friction and make a wooden part move more freely. Peg soap is a round pink block, generally wrapped in foil, and about the size of a US quarter or UK pound coin. Joha peg soap is a great brand of peg soap to get.
Peg compounds and dopes are generally formulated to control friction—allowing a peg to turn while also helping it maintain enough grip that it doesn’t slip.
That’s exactly what you want from a violin tuning peg. But it isn’t necessarily what you want when you’re trying to get a hurdy-gurdy key moving freely.
Think of it this way:
Peg soap → reduce friction and help a sticky part move.
Peg compound/dope → balance friction and grip.
That distinction is particularly important when working on hurdy-gurdy keys.
Why are these products so confusing?
Unfortunately, the terminology used by manufacturers and retailers isn’t consistent.
A product may be called peg soap by one manufacturer and peg compound by another. Götz, for example, sells its ZW-96 as “Peg Soap,” while its own description also calls it a “Graphite Peg-Compound.” The company says the product is intended to provide lubrication while maintaining appropriate friction.
So don’t rely exclusively on the name on the package.
Instead, look at what the product is designed to do.
For a sticky key, you’re looking for something intended primarily to lubricate and reduce friction.
Some people will also suggested buying graphite powder. While this does work, we don’t suggest it as it can be messy and peg soap generally does a better job.
Peg Soap: The Basic Idea
Traditional peg soap is essentially a lubricant for wooden friction surfaces.
It is commonly used on wooden tuning pegs when they are too tight, difficult to turn, or squeaky. Products sold as peg soap can have different formulations, so “soap” doesn’t necessarily mean that every product is literally ordinary bar soap.
The important characteristic is that it makes the contact surfaces move more easily.
For hurdy-gurdy work, this is the quality we’re interested in.
A very small amount can help a wooden key move more freely when friction is the problem. During the summer, when humidity is an issue – this can be a real drag. Keys can get stuck and not fall back into position. This is the right time to take out your key, apply peg soap to all four sides, place the key back in position, and then burnish it by moving it back and forth. This allows the peg soap to work it’s way into position to allow the key to move more freely.
Peg Compound or Peg Dope: A Different Job
Peg compounds are primarily designed for tuning pegs.
A traditional friction peg has to do two contradictory things:
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- It has to turn smoothly enough that you can tune the instrument.
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- It has to have enough friction that it stays exactly where you put it.
A good peg compound is designed to help achieve that balance.
W.E. Hill & Sons’ famous peg compound, for example, is specifically intended for wooden friction pegs that have stopped turning smoothly. Its formulation includes graphite, petroleum jelly, China clay, talc, and red iron oxide.
That’s a very different job from simply making a key move as freely as possible.
This is why peg compound is not automatically the best choice for a sticky hurdy-gurdy key.
And What About “Peg Dope”?
“Peg dope” is another term you’ll encounter.
In the string-instrument world, peg dope, peg paste, and peg compound are often used interchangeably or nearly interchangeably. The exact formulation varies from manufacturer to manufacturer.
For example, Hill’s product is sold by retailers as Hill Peg Compound, Hill Peg Paste, or Hill Peg Dope.
So if you’re shopping online, don’t assume that a product is appropriate simply because it says “peg” on the label.
Read the description and identify whether the product is intended primarily as a lubricant or as a friction-balancing compound.
What Should You Buy for Your Hurdy-Gurdy?
For a sticky key, our recommendation is: Peg soap for sure. Specifically Joha Peg Soap. This stuff works great. This little pink block lasts a long time, so the investment is well worth it.
How Much Should You Use?
Very little.
If you’re applying peg soap to a hurdy-gurdy key or key stem, don’t smear the product over the entire key.
Instead:
- Remove the key from your instrument.
- Clean off any dirt, dust, or old residue.
- Apply a tiny amount of peg soap on all four sides of the key.
- Put the key back in your instrument (without attaching the tangents back as you might want to add more peg soap).
- Work the key back and forth until it seems to move very freely.
- Wipe away any visible excess.
- Reattach the tangents.
You should not be able to see a thick coating of product.
The goal is less friction—not a lubricated, greasy key.
Sticky Keys May Not Be a Lubrication Problem
This is especially important with hurdy-gurdies.
A key that sticks can be caused by:
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- humidity changes
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- swelling of the wood
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- misalignment
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- dirt or debris
If the key is still sticking after a very small amount of peg soap, you can add a little more, but if it’s still a problem then you will want to look at shaving down your keys.
Where Can You Buy Peg Soap & Peg Compound?
Peg soap is widely available from violin shops and string-instrument suppliers because violinists have been dealing with sticky wooden pegs for centuries.
Here are some currently available sources:
Joha Peg Soap
Joha peg soap is the best product we’ve found for helping with sticky keys. Retailers are in Europe and Canada.
Götz Peg Soap
Götz ZW-96 Peg Soap is another product we would suggest looking for when you specifically want a product sold as peg soap. Götz describes it as a graphite peg compound for lubrication, tuning, and controlled friction.
It is also currently sold by several music retailers, including Concord Musical Supplies and Stringers Music.
W.E. Hill & Sons Peg Compound
Hill’s is one of the best-known traditional peg compounds. It is excellent for wooden friction tuning pegs, particularly when a peg needs smoother operation while retaining appropriate friction.
W.E. Hill & Sons Peg Compound — Johnson String Instrument
Other violin suppliers
Peg soap and peg compounds are also available from specialist string-instrument suppliers including:
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- Fiddlershop — carries W.E. Hill Peg Compound.
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- Kennedy Violins — carries W.E. Hill Peg Compound.
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- Violin Outlet — carries Hill Peg Compound/Dope and other peg products.
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- Metzler Violin Shop — carries both Götz Peg Soap and Hill Peg Paste.
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- Elderly Instruments — carries W.E. Hill Peg Compound.
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- Stamell Stringed Instruments — carries Hill Peg Compound.
One Last Important Warning
Don’t use ordinary household oils, WD-40, or similar products on your hurdy-gurdy keys.
Wooden instruments are sensitive to contamination, and petroleum-based products can create problems that are much harder to undo than a sticky key.
A product specifically designed for wooden instrument friction surfaces is a much safer choice.
And remember:
If a key is sticky, first determine where and why it is sticking. Then use the smallest amount of an appropriate lubricant necessary to correct the problem.
Peg soap can be a wonderfully simple solution—but it isn’t a substitute for proper adjustment when the key is physically binding.
GurdyWorld’s rule of thumb
Sticky key? Think lubrication.
Slipping tuning peg? Think friction control.
And if you’re not sure which product you have, check the label before putting it on your instrument. The words soap, compound, and dope are unfortunately not standardized enough to tell you the whole story. Good luck!