Coburn,
I have used both yarn and key bushing cloth. Bolstering can help regain a more circular shape, but does little to nothing for the deep grooves in the working surface of knuckle as you mention. For that, we either resurface with a mini-sanding paddle (with 220 grit wet/dry paper attached) or a svelte, maneuverable electric shaver (thanks to Wayne Ferguson for that!), if you can find one properly dimensioned.
The best remedy for a grooved, deformed knuckle is, of course, replacement. (If knuckles and hammers are of the same vintage and the knuckles are that far down the road, so are the hammers.) One underestimates the importance of knuckle condition at one's own peril.
Alan
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Alan Eder, RPT
Herb Alpert School of Music
California Institute of the Arts
Valencia, CA
661.904.6483
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Original Message:
Sent: 11-06-2021 01:12
From: Cobrun Sells
Subject: Bolstering Knuckles/Wippen Cushions
Just seeing a recent thead mentioning bolstering I thought I'd ask as well.
What is everyone's bolstering policy? Do you? Do you never? When do you? How do you? With yarn? Key bushing strip? How do you thread through? Tell ALL your secrets. I want to start doing so on deeply grooved knuckles.