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Erwin Hammer Sander

  • 1.  Erwin Hammer Sander

    Posted 10-12-2020 22:30
    Who here has tried the Erwin Hammer Belt Sander?

    Any thoughts?

    On another note, without such a tool how long should a full set of hammer reshaping take? What methods are you all using out here?

    Thanks.


    Hammer Filing Mini Belt Sander - Erwin's Piano Restoration Inc.
    Erwin's Piano Restoration Inc. remove preview
    Hammer Filing Mini Belt Sander - Erwin's Piano Restoration Inc.
    Use this mini belt sander with a (Foredom) flex shaft drive tool with collet to quickly and efficiently file away string grooves and reshape hammers. Belts and flex shaft tool not included. If you want to use this tool with a Dremel flex tool you will need the smaller 1/8″ shaft size.
    View this on Erwin's Piano Restoration Inc. >



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    Cobrun Sells
    cobrun94@yahoo.com
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  • 2.  RE: Erwin Hammer Sander

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-12-2020 22:47
    I purchased one a couple years ago. Works great. Very fast and easy to keep the hammer filing square. With any tool it takes a little bit of time to get the hang of it, but it's not a big learning curve. I'd estimate it takes about half the time if you've got a lot of material to remove compared to hand sanding. Touching up a mildly flat-topped set of hammers is really fast, maybe 20 minutes or less. You do have to be careful with the flax shaft to keep it from running across the hammers as you work. As with anything powered, you have be mindful because it will sand quite a lot in a short time. I found a Foredom knockoff on Ebay for cheap (don't recall the price) which works fine, but the real Foredom tool I"m sure is better. My foot pedal tends to rev up too high (get what you pay for), but you get used to it. YMMV.
    Bottom line, Dale doesn't sell junk to make a buck. It's a quality tool and worth whatever it cost. You won't be disappointed.
    Paul McCloud
    San Diego



    Cobrun Sells
    Who here has tried the Erwin Hammer Belt Sander?

    Any thoughts?

    On another note, without such a tool how long should a full set of hammer reshaping take? What methods are you all using out here?

    Thanks.


    Hammer Filing Mini Belt Sander - Erwin's Piano Restoration Inc.
    Erwin's Piano Restoration Inc. remove preview


    Hammer Filing Mini Belt Sander - Erwin's Piano Restoration Inc.
    Use this mini belt sander with a (Foredom) flex shaft drive tool with collet to quickly and efficiently file away string grooves and reshape hammers. Belts and flex shaft tool not included. If you want to use this tool with a Dremel flex tool you will need the smaller 1/8″ shaft size.
    View this on Erwin's Piano Restoration Inc. >


    ------------------------------
    Cobrun Sells
    cobrun94@yahoo.com





  • 3.  RE: Erwin Hammer Sander

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-13-2020 00:02

    Hey Cobrun,

    I just asked about this a few weeks ago in a thread called "Mini Belt Sander Wanted." You can search for it to see some more info on the subject.

    I haven't gotten one yet. As of a few weeks ago Erwin's was out of stock, maybe they've replenished by now. Anyway, I was looking at this tool as a possible alternative. For those of you who've used the Erwin's version, what are your thoughts on it?

    There are other versions of course, and I’m not trying to be cheap, but not being able to source one has force me to explore the alternatives. 

    ------------------------------
    Benjamin Sanchez, RPT
    Piano Technician / Artisan
    (805) 315-8050
    www.professional-piano-services.com
    ------------------------------



  • 4.  RE: Erwin Hammer Sander

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-13-2020 00:12
    It looks like that tool could work, but better to attach a flat metal piece to the tool so it will lay flat against the side of the hammer while sanding. Eyeballing may or may not work well. That's one advantage to Dale's sander. It keeps the sander square. Might be easier to use because there's no flex shaft to get in the way. It's also a lot less expensive. Give it a try!
    Paul Mccloud
    San Diego


    Hey Cobrun,

    I just asked about this a few weeks ago in a thread called "Mini Belt Sander Wanted." You can search for it to see some more info on the subject.

    I haven't gotten one yet. As of a few weeks ago Erwin's was out of stock, maybe they've replenished by now. Anyway, I was looking at this tool as a possible alternative. For those of you who've used the Erwin's version, what are your thoughts on it?

    ------------------------------
    Benjamin Sanchez, RPT
    Piano Technician / Artisan
    (805) 315-8050
    www.professional-piano-services.com



    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Erwin Hammer Sander

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-13-2020 00:14
    I just noticed it's air powered. Now instead of a shaft, you have an air hose. An electric one would be bulkier. Interesting food for thought..
    Paul McCloud
    San Diego


    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Erwin Hammer Sander

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-13-2020 01:54
    I checked out the specs for the air driven sander. You would need a 4 or 5 cfm compressor, minimum cost for a new one would be about $400+. So, unless you already have air in your shop, the Erwin sander would be cheaper. The small "pancake" style compressors only put out about 2.5 cfm. Super noisy too.
    Paul McCloud
    San Diego

    Benjamin Sanchez
    Hey Cobrun,

    I just asked about this a few weeks ago in a thread called "Mini Belt Sander Wanted." You can search for it to see some more info on the subject.

    I haven't gotten one yet. As of a few weeks ago Erwin's was out of stock, maybe they've replenished by now. Anyway, I was looking at this tool as a possible alternative. For those of you who've used the Erwin's version, what are your thoughts on it?

    ------------------------------
    Benjamin Sanchez, RPT
    Piano Technician / Artisan
    (805) 315-8050
    www.professional-piano-services.com



    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: Erwin Hammer Sander

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-13-2020 02:17
    Oops, I sent the wrong link. The one I was looking at plugged into an extension cord and was electrically powered. Same principle, though. Do you think something like this would work, or is it the wrong shape, too long?

    Sincerely,

    Benjamin Sanchez, RPT
    Piano Technician / Artisan
    (805) 315-8050
    www.professional-piano-services.com


    Original Message


  • 8.  RE: Erwin Hammer Sander

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-13-2020 02:24
    Hi Benjamin:
    I do think it would work, but I would add something to rest against the hammer as it's being sanded. I just posted one such sander, which would probably work well. Whether it's too long, I don't know. Less than $100, half the price of the Erwin sander, and no Foredom tool needed. Hmm..
    Paul McCloud
    San Diego



    Benjamin Sanchez
    Oops, I sent the wrong link. The one I was looking at plugged into an extension cord and was electrically powered. Same principle, though. Do you think something like this would work, or is it the wrong shape, too long?

    Sincerely,

    Benjamin Sanchez, RPT
    Piano Technician / Artisan
    (805) 315-8050
    www.professional-piano-services.com


    Original Message


  • 9.  RE: Erwin Hammer Sander

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-13-2020 01:59
    Here's a nice mini belt sander for just a little bit more money, with an electric motor.

    https://www.eastwood.com/1-2-mini-belt-sander-13x457mm-atsa628aan.html

    Eastwood has many excellent tools for the auto body repair industry.

    Paul McCloud
    San Diego


    Original Message


  • 10.  RE: Erwin Hammer Sander

    Posted 10-13-2020 00:32
    I got this tool last year and have used it now on approximately 40 sets of hammers: I love it.
    It offers great control and has required only minimal final touch up.
    I think it cut back my hammer sanding/reshaping from 90 minutes to 15, sometimes 20 minutes.
    Peter

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    Petrus Janssen
    Peachtree City GA
    678-416-8055
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  • 11.  RE: Erwin Hammer Sander

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-13-2020 07:33
    Hi Cobrun,
    I have one that I am not using and would like to sell. It is only been used two or three times. Please contact me off list if you’re interested.
    David
    David Weiss Piano Service
    434-823-9733 davidweisspiano@gmail.com www,davidweisspiano.com

    Sent from my iPhone




  • 12.  RE: Erwin Hammer Sander

    Posted 10-13-2020 07:59
    If major felt removal is in order, chances are pinning is an issue so I remove the h/s/f from the rail and use an oscillating spindle sander to resurface. For minor reshaping or final dressing the surface I made handles for the sand paper that Jurgen sells. The handles hold the paper securely and the paper is strong enough to take tension. I made a storage holder from player tubing. To somewhat polish the surface, flip the handles over and ''shoe-shine' with the paper side. A Key Bushing Iron will finish their appearance.

    ------------------------------
    Regards,

    Jon Page
    mailto:jonpage@comcast.net
    http://www.pianocapecod.com
    ------------------------------


  • 13.  RE: Erwin Hammer Sander

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-13-2020 08:07
    Yes, what Jon said is also what I do. If you don't have an oscillating spindle sander, you can use a drum sander on a drill press. This approach is fast, accurate (partly because the hammer can readily be examined from any angle, as you are holding it in your hand), and with a minimal learning curve (most assistants learn to do a good reshaping job by this method faster than with a strip or paddle). As Jon points out, if many or most of the hammer assemblies have to be removed from the rail for re-pinning anyway...

    Alan

    ------------------------------
    Alan Eder, RPT
    Herb Alpert School of Music
    California Institute of the Arts
    Valencia, CA
    661.904.6483
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    Original Message


  • 14.  RE: Erwin Hammer Sander

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-13-2020 20:59
    I can't for the life of me, hand sand a hammer and actually have it come out square with the sides. It always looks good until I get it in the piano and then I notice the slight tilt. I have, therefore, started using a Dremel took mounted in a Dremel routing table with a rotating sander wheel. Since I almost never reshape hammers unless there is other work involved, like repinning flanges or replacing butt spring loops, I have no problem pulling the hammers so that I can place them flat on the table. Takes a bit of practice, but the results are swift and always square.



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    Geoff Sykes, RPT
    Los Angeles CA
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    Original Message


  • 15.  RE: Erwin Hammer Sander

    Posted 10-13-2020 21:19
      |   view attached
    Another benefit to removing the hammers from the rail when replacing Yamaha spring loops. Not only can you resurface the hammers but you can taper the hammers the way they did 100+ years ago.

    An oscillating spindle sander puts a finer finish on the surface than a drum sander. Plus you can hook up a shop vac to keep the area clear of fuzz.

    ------------------------------
    Regards,

    Jon Page
    mailto:jonpage@comcast.net
    http://www.pianocapecod.com
    ------------------------------

    Original Message