Humidity will attack the hammer glue bond in hammers as well as swell the felt. The hammer is a big sponge. I have had to replace a full set of hammer felts in a fairly new Baldwin Hamilton. No staples but not sure that would have helped. After extended days of heavy rains it can affect the sound/tone on hammers.
A few years ago we had extensive river flooding . After the water subsided I had to inspect at least a half dozen pianos that had been in flooded homes and all had hammers that peeled back some more than others. An analog moisture meter pegged out with 100% moisture readings even though it was a full upright with on;y a wet bottom board. Not sure what the humidity was in NY this year but the glue may just have lost the bond for good. I am not a fan of trying to reglue peeled felt since I can't envision how you can get the compression that the original hammer press applied. Time for a full replacement
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James Kelly
Owner- Fur Elise Piano Service
Pawleys Island SC
(843) 325-4357
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-05-2022 08:07
From: Peter Grey
Subject: Blue underfelt
Aha! And this piano came from Florida to upstate NY roughly 10 years ago. Thanks for this additional info. Very helpful. I will pass it along to the attending tech.
Peter Grey Piano Doctor
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Peter Grey
Stratham NH
(603) 686-2395
pianodoctor57@gmail.com
Original Message:
Sent: 09-05-2022 06:43
From: David Doremus
Subject: Blue underfelt
I'm with Tom. There's a whole period of Renner hammers that had glue issues and come apart under humid conditions. They did send me a new set one time 15 years ago but it took some persuasion. And that was a set I had installed only two years previously. I've also seen this with some Baldwin uprights and especially Aeolians with the green under layer.
---Dave
Sent from my phone, forgive typos!
Original Message:
Sent: 9/5/2022 5:23:00 AM
From: Thomas Servinsky
Subject: RE: Blue underfelt
Peter
If they are popping apart, my guess is that they are Renner's. I've had countless encounters with the Renner's from about 20yrs ago, all popping apart. Its seems the ones that I've experienced were at a time when the staples were removed to reduce weight. In my opinion, the worst decision ever! Here in S. Florida, they simply don't hold up. I've had to eat the cost of numerous sets of hammers that I installed, that within 5 yrs. of installation, they started popping apart.
Tom Servinsky
Registered Piano Technician
Concert Artist Piano Technician
Director/Conductor- Academy Orchestra
Managing Conductor-Treasure Coast Youth Symphony
Clarinetist-Atlantic Classical Orchestra
tompiano@tomservinsky.com
Website: tomservinsky.com
772 221 1011 office
772 260 7110 cell
Original Message:
Sent: 9/4/2022 9:34:00 AM
From: Peter Grey
Subject: RE: Blue underfelt
So in greatest likelihood the hammers in question on this piano (not one under my care) are either Renner or Abel as they are replacements. Unfortunately they are popping unglued from the mouldings. I see no option other than replacement once again but if the maker could be determined they "might" provide replacements under the circumstances. (Repeat might).
Thanks for the input all.
Peter Grey Piano Doctor
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Peter Grey
Stratham NH
(603) 686-2395
pianodoctor57@gmail.com
Original Message:
Sent: 09-03-2022 22:56
From: Richard Adkins
Subject: Blue underfelt
--
Abel has blue core (under)felt pictured along with other colors....I believe Bluthner had blue,yes?
Richard Adkins
Keyboard Tuning and Maintenance
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Original Message:
Sent: 9/2/2022 1:05:00 PM
From: Peter Grey
Subject: Blue underfelt
Aside from Renner, is anyone familiar with any other hammer makers that use (or have used) blue underfelt? Essentially within the last 10-15 years.
Peter Grey Piano Doctor
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Peter Grey
Stratham NH
(603) 686-2395
pianodoctor57@gmail.com
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