PianoTech Archive

  • 1.  Cleaning hammers and other action parts?

    Posted 02-09-2009 14:23 
    From "David Boyce" <David@piano.plus.com>

I went to a customer today whom I visited for the first time last year. 

They have two upright pianos, only one of which I had tuned on the previous visit. They told me last year that they had previously had work done at some expense on the other piano but weren't very pleased with it. There was no time for me to look at it on that occasion.

Today I tuned the piano I did before, and they wanted the other one doing too. It turns out to be a 1923 Chappell, quite nice. The work that had been done on it seems only to have been the fitting of new bridle tapes and balance hammer leather. Neatly enough done. They said it cost a lot, but I didn't ask how much.  The piano is 300 cents low, but the pins are tight, so it's just neglect.  Why did that other technician renew tapes and leathers, but not say about the pitch?  I am going back to do a pitch raise for them.

The action, especially the hammers (the wood and the felt) are prettty grubby with what seems to be ingrained soot.  What do you suggest for doing a reasonably quick in-situ cleanup? Disassembling and cleaning with oxalic acid isn't really an option.  I'm not much drawn to the idea of whitening the hammer felts with dressmakers' chalk.

Best regards,

David.


  • 2.  Cleaning hammers and other action parts?

    Posted 02-09-2009 14:43 
    From John Ross <jrpiano@win.eastlink.ca>

Glass beads in a sand blaster at reduced pressure, does a reasonable job.
I haven't done it too much, and never got around to making the cabinet.
There was an article in the Journal years ago with plans and instructions by Bill Spurlock.
John Ross
  
    
                                                
    
					
                                                    

        
                                                
				
    
                                                
    
                                                    
                                                        
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  • 3.  Cleaning hammers and other action parts?

    Posted 02-09-2009 15:20 
    From "Dean May" <deanmay@pianorebuilders.com>

From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf
Of John Ross
Sent: Monday, February 09, 2009 4:43 PM
To: pianotech@ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Cleaning hammers and other action parts?

Glass beads in a sand blaster at reduced pressure, does a reasonable job.

I haven't done it too much, and never got around to making the cabinet.

There was an article in the Journal years ago with plans and instructions by
Bill Spurlock.

John Ross

 

 

 

 

I have a post from the archives below on using a sand blaster for keys, but
I use it for actions as well. No need for a fancy cabinet, just do it
outside and don't worry about recovering the sand. It certainly won't hurt
the environment and you can do a lot of actions with 100 lbs of sand. 

Dean

Dean May             cell 812.239.3359 

PianoRebuilders.com   812.235.5272 

Terre Haute IN  47802

  _____  

From: Dean May [mailto:deanmay@pianorebuilders.com] 
Sent: Saturday, February 19, 2005 8:28 AM
To: 'Pianotech'
Subject: RE: cleaning keys

 

I use a siphon feed sand blaster. You can pick one up for about $20 at farm
supply stores or Harbor Freight type tool sellers. 

 

For abrasive, I use 150 Garnet mesh, a very fine garnet sand purchased from
Abrasive Products, (317) 485-7701, in Fortville, Indiana. It ships in a pail
of about 100 lbs and costs about 50 dollars. It will last quite awhile.
Judicious experimentation will allow you to use it to clean most action
parts making them look like new. It will even clean hammer felt making them
look better. It will also chew right through any strings used to anchor
springs in a heartbeat and blow up damper felt.

 

Be sure to take the keys off the key frame so you don't pit the key pins
with abrasive. Best to avoid the bushings unless you are planning on
rebushing. 

 

Experiment on old upright actions in your graveyard. You'll quickly get the
hang of it.  Use compressed air to blow the sand out when you are done. I've
used this procedure for 15 years now with great success. 

 

Thump (Gordon Stelter) has another cleaning method that is intriguing. It
involves soaking things in some concoction. I haven't been able to overcome
my built in resistance to soaking wood parts in fluid to try it. But the
results are beautiful. It should be in the archives within the last few
months. 

 

Blessings,

 

Dean

Dean May             cell 812.239.3359

PianoRebuilders.com   812.235.5272

Terre Haute IN  47802


  • 4.  Cleaning hammers and other action parts?

    Posted 02-09-2009 14:59
      |   view attached 
    From "Marc Lanthier \(Piano Lanco\)" <info@pianolanco.com>

I use a rounded scotch-brite pad (forest green color) attached to a power
drill. Press against the underside of the hammers as you pass the cleaning
abrasive over the hammers and mouldings. Does a great job....
 

Marc Lanthier
514-770-7438
1-877-PIANO10
info@pianolanco.com
www.pianolanco.com  <http://www.pianolanco.com/> 

 

  _____  

From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf
Of David Boyce
Sent: February 9, 2009 4:23 PM
To: pianotech@ptg.org
Subject: [pianotech] Cleaning hammers and other action parts?


I went to a customer today whom I visited for the first time last year. 
 
They have two upright pianos, only one of which I had tuned on the previous
visit. They told me last year that they had previously had work done at some
expense on the other piano but weren't very pleased with it. There was no
time for me to look at it on that occasion.
 
Today I tuned the piano I did before, and they wanted the other one doing
too. It turns out to be a 1923 Chappell, quite nice. The work that had been
done on it seems only to have been the fitting of new bridle tapes and
balance hammer leather. Neatly enough done. They said it cost a lot, but I
didn't ask how much.  The piano is 300 cents low, but the pins are tight, so
it's just neglect.  Why did that other technician renew tapes and leathers,
but not say about the pitch?  I am going back to do a pitch raise for them.
 
The action, especially the hammers (the wood and the felt) are prettty
grubby with what seems to be ingrained soot.  What do you suggest for doing
a reasonably quick in-situ cleanup? Disassembling and cleaning with oxalic
acid isn't really an option.  I'm not much drawn to the idea of whitening
the hammer felts with dressmakers' chalk.
 
Best regards,
 
David.


  • 5.  Cleaning hammers and other action parts?

    Posted 02-09-2009 16:01 
    From "David Boyce" <David@piano.plus.com>

Thanks for the sandblasting suggestions folks! I don't own a sandblaster, but looking at prices online I see that they're not that expensive and I'm certainly tempted to get one.

Best,

David.


  • 6.  Cleaning hammers and other action parts?

    Posted 02-09-2009 16:20 
    From John Ross <jrpiano@win.eastlink.ca>

Just watch the grit and pressure you use.
Work up.
Glass beads are the least harmful.
You will need a compressor as well.
A compressor, was one of the first of the more expensive tools, I have purchased over the years. Never regretted the purchase.
You could just use a friends compressor, or pay the local garage for the use of theirs.
John Ross
  
    
                                                
    
					
                                                    

        
                                                
				
    
                                                
    
                                                    
                                                        
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  • 7.  Cleaning hammers and other action parts?

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 02-09-2009 18:32 
    From Barbara Richmond <piano57@comcast.net>

Hi Marc, 



I don't quite understand which way you hold/secure the parts.   Would you have a picture of the tool and parts set up & ready to go to work?  A before and after picture of the parts would be cool, too. 



Thanks, 



Barbara Richmond, RPT 

near Peoria, Illinois 



    
                                                
    
					
                                                    

        
                                                
				
    
                                                
    
                                                    
                                                        
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  • 8.  Cleaning hammers and other action parts?

    Posted 02-10-2009 08:11 
    From "Joe And Penny Goss" <imatunr@srvinet.com>

Be sure to check for cracks in the plate
Joe Goss RPT
Mother Goose Tools
imatunr@srvinet.com
www.mothergoosetools.com
  
    
                                                
    
					
                                                    

        
                                                
				
    
                                                
    
                                                    
                                                        
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