From A440A@aol.com
Joe Ross asks,
> Even the
crown of the hammer has been lacquered. Does anyone have any suggestions for
softening these rocks? Someone suggested a few drops of lacquer thinner on
>the crown.
------------
It was the nature of recording technology here in Nashville that
required, (or so say the "old-line" engineers), really bright pianos. By the
time digital equipment, and better microphones came in, there were a number
of pianos that were way over the top!
Many were not salvageable, but in an attempt to restore SOME kind of
tonal range, I tried acetone on the hammers, and I am not talking about a
few drops, more like a teaspoon, right on the top. I think that as the
solvent migrated through the felt, it carried some of the laquer away from
the strike point, but it was still a compromised hammer.
Perhaps the use of pliars may help; since you are really in a nose dive,
try anything!!
My advice is to try these remedies, but be ready to replace the set. (BTW<
was this laquering done to get at least some sound out of a dead
soundboard>?)
Good luck, you will need it!
Ed Foote
From pianotech@ptg.org Tue, 16 Apr 1996 09:21:22 -0500 (CDT)
Date: Tue, 16 Apr 1996 09:21:22 -0500 (CDT)
From: Dennis H Johnson <johnsond@stolaf.edu>
To: pianotech@byu.edu
Cc: Multiple recipients of list <pianotech@byu.edu>
Subject: Re: soften over-lacquered hammers?
A few drops? Just soak 'em with thinner, allow to dry a few weeks, and
start over. If they are really bad, you can wash them out with a lot
of thinner, let dry a month, and then built the tone back up from
nothing. This is presuming that they are not ready for replacement
otherwise, and you want or need to save that expense.
Dennis Johnson
On Mon, 15 Apr 1996 JR450@aol.com wrote:
> I am servicing a Steinway D that has hammers that are hard as rocks. Even the
> crown of the hammer has been lacquered. Does anyone have any suggestions for
> softening these rocks? Someone suggested a few drops of lacquer thinner on
> the crown. Has anyone had any success with this.
>
> Thanks,
> Joe Ross
> Rochester, NY
>
From pianotech@ptg.org Tue, 16 Apr 1996 09:37:01 -0500 (CDT)
Date: Tue, 16 Apr 1996 09:37:01 -0500 (CDT)
From: Dennis H Johnson <johnsond@stolaf.edu>
To: pianotech@byu.edu
Cc: Multiple recipients of list <pianotech@byu.edu>
Subject: Re: Tension gauge (was teflon lube)
Actually, there have been a couple of price increases since then. Current
price is $169.00. I have been considering a Swiss made model from a local
machine tool supplier for about $145.00, but the only reason I didn't get
yet is because I know that as soon as I do the new, probably cheaper
digital models will be released.
Dennis Johnson
On Mon, 15 Apr 1996 Jim_Harvey@yca.CCMAIL.CompuServe.COM wrote:
> Apparently patience IS a virtue... I just saved myself $119.00!
>
> About your dial-type gauge. I hope you didn't buy it from Marinelli at
> an exhibit. If so, it's probably the one I handled, wanted, drooled
> on, and therefore caused to rust! <G>
>
> Regards, and thanks!
>
> Jim Harvey, RPT
>
> __________________________ Reply Separator ______________________
> Last year I retired it totally after a visit from Bill Garlick. We
> had been discussing action centering, and Bill asked to see my guage.
> He demonstrated to me conclusively (with gram weights) that the
> readings were quite low. Our very basic supply house model was more
> accurate!
>
>
>