It would be in everyone's best interest to track down this article/story and fact check it. It is likely a marketing miss-representation . Asbestos is a known carcinogen and its handling and removal is dangerous and hazardous. It was often used for fireproofing , found in brake linings, used in flooring tiles and siding shingles. When it is found during demolition or renovations it brings things to a halt and needs to be remediated by licensed professionals . It is not something to be messed with . EPA an\d States have strict regulations governing the handling, removal, disposal of asbestos as well as test protocols, haz mat training, protective gear , pemits. I doubt that there is any type of testing done on wools/felts coming here from China or anyplace for that matter to screen for asbestos. If it were being blended into wool one would think there would be high rates of lung cancers and asbestos related deaths like with shipbuilders or mechanics that got exposed to asbestos brake pads.
On the other hand we have seen major issues with imported dry wall (black mold) and deadly pet (mostly dog) foods that attacked kidneys and other organs. I am not sure how one would or could check the felt in a hammer for asbestos- a question that perhaps be asked of an environmental agency, lab, environmental engineer, or environmental hygienist . Since many of us shape hammers to remove string cuts and flat spots it would be good to know if there is any chance of something like this. Having a simple dust mask on is not going to give you much protection and releasing asbestos fibers into the air is deadly to others . I would also think that if fibers were in the hammer felt they would be getting released with every hammer strike, damper lift, test blow - that's not a very pretty thought.
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James Kelly
Pawleys Island SC
843-325-4357
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Original Message:
Sent: 02-09-2018 16:23
From: Christopher Purdy
Subject: Asbestos?
I received an email from someone looking at used pianos with a question I have never heard. This person read online somewhere that you need to be careful not to purchase a piano with asbestos as an ingredient in hammer felt. I responded that no, I have never heard of any manufacturer using asbestos in hammer felt.
The thing that is nagging me is that I do not know that as a provable fact. I am sure that if there were even trace amounts of asbestos in hammer felt we would be well aware of it with all the hammer filing that we do routinely. Can anyone with more detailed hammer felt experience confirm this for me? I feel stupid for even asking but have to admit I don't know it for a fact.
Thank you!
Chris
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Christopher Purdy, RPT
School of Music, Ohio University
Athens, OH . 45701
purdy@ohio.edu
(740) 590-3842
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