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Stringing felts (original)

  • 1.  Stringing felts (original)

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 08-30-2017 20:11
      |   view attached
    This is a 1897 Steinway A soon to be strung (after drilling pinblock of course). My photo shows part of the front duplex bars. My question has to do with the ORIGINAL felts on these bars. My memory tells me that they were round red felt discs as I have cut and shown on the left. Since this piano was restring once before, using the solid strips of felt as shown in the center (more modern style), I would like to restore the original style if possible. 

    Am I correct that originally it would have had individual felt discs, or am I thinking about the uprights from that time period? Anyone know for sure?

    Pwg

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    Peter Grey
    Stratham NH
    603-686-2395
    pianodoctor57@gmail.com
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  • 2.  RE: Stringing felts (original)

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 08-30-2017 22:06
    I believe you are corby about the discs.  I've dine a couple of these. 

    Gary Bruce
    Registered Piano Technician





  • 3.  RE: Stringing felts (original)

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 08-30-2017 22:06
    * correct not corby. 

    Gary Bruce
    Registered Piano Technician





  • 4.  RE: Stringing felts (original)

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 08-31-2017 00:01
    Peter.

    I've done both. The strips are easier, but don't as nice.

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    Willem "Wim" Blees, RPT
    Mililani, HI 96789
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  • 5.  RE: Stringing felts (original)

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 08-31-2017 01:45
    The real questions is: can you get those discs from a supplier in a felt that's as firm as the strips?  If the discs are mushy, I wouldn't use them.

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    Cecil Snyder
    Torrance CA
    310-542-7108
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  • 6.  RE: Stringing felts (original)

    Posted 08-31-2017 07:14
    Punchings are the way to go. Thick enough to mute the string segment without inducing drag (too thick and dense).

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    Regards,

    Jon Page
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  • 7.  RE: Stringing felts (original)

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 08-31-2017 07:33
    Thanks all for the confirmation.

    I have some pretty firm stringing felt from Schaff in the drawer which I used to knock out those discs. It is ideal thickness and firmness so I will cut the rest and glue em on.

    Gary, I laughed my head off at your reply!! Autocorrect drives me nuts!

    Pwg

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    Peter Grey
    Stratham NH
    603-686-2395
    pianodoctor57@gmail.com
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  • 8.  RE: Stringing felts (original)

    Posted 08-31-2017 09:06
    Regardless of what the original used, I would not put a dense, and thus relatively compressed felt in that spot. All it does is increase superfluous friction. Superfluous friction up there tends to challenge rendering. All that's needed is a soft felt contact with the strings.This superfluous friction will not be apparent after the restring, but it will become apparent a couple of years down the road.

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    Jim Ialeggio
    grandpianosolutions.com
    Shirley, MA
    978 425-9026
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  • 9.  RE: Stringing felts (original)

    Posted 08-31-2017 09:19
    I hope he hits the right keys when playing the piano.

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    Regards,

    Jon Page
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  • 10.  RE: Stringing felts (original)

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 09-01-2017 01:34
    Jim, I'm not sure I agree that some dense felt up there is superfluous.   Unlike in the lower tenor section, the width of the felt is much shorter and the wire does not cross at much of an angle, i.e. it's not bearing on the felt to the same degree.  Also in that position in the scale, the non speaking length of the wire, both in front of the capo and behind the bridge is a much higher percentage of the total length than lower down in the scale.  It seems self evident to me that greater the proportion of non-speaking to speaking length, the greater the instability of the tuning.  So perhaps a bit of drag up there is not such a bad thing?

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    Cecil Snyder
    Torrance CA
    310-542-7108
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  • 11.  RE: Stringing felts (original)

    Posted 09-01-2017 17:37
    I agree that a firm felt is fine to use as the round punchings. I would argue that it is even a better choice than a softer felt.  I have seen plenty of restrung pianos with soft felt punchings. They contort and squish over sideways and do all kinds of unsightly things.

    The strings are only pressing down on felt for a very short length, 1/2" or so.  This is not enough to cause any friction issues. Of course, the correct thickness of felt must be used.

    I can supply any size punching in any thickness.

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    Jurgen Goering
    Piano Forte Supply
    www.pianofortesupply.com
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  • 12.  RE: Stringing felts (original)

    Posted 09-01-2017 19:53


    Best,
    Jim