Pianotech

  • 1.  Hair straightener/shank removal

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 08-25-2025 17:16

    Hi, several techs have posted about using an electric hair straightener to head hammer heads and butts to help when extracting broken shanks. Repositioning the pivot point allows the heating surface to parallel a hammer or butt's thickness. A quick search here didn't find a result. Anyone remember the brand & model?



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    Patrick Draine RPT
    Billerica MA
    (978) 663-9690
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  • 2.  RE: Hair straightener/shank removal

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 08-25-2025 17:32

    June 2012 Piano Technicians Journal, page 2 - Editorial Perspective



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    Floyd Gadd RPT
    Regina SK
    (306) 502-9103
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Hair straightener/shank removal

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 08-25-2025 18:27

    Thank you, Floyd!



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    Patrick Draine RPT
    Billerica MA
    (978) 663-9690
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Hair straightener/shank removal

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 08-25-2025 19:55
    I found a "mini hair straightener" at Walmart that works perfectly. I did the modification like the journal article recommended. It works great. A few years ago, as I recall, it was only about $12. I've used it to bend shanks as well. A big thank you to whoever came up with the idea!
    Sent from my iPhone



    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Hair straightener/shank removal

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 08-25-2025 20:30

    Mr. Draine.

    Almost exactly 10 years ago I posted this:

    It's from a CAUT thread in the summer of 2015 about the best glue for hanging hammers. It's a long thread from a simpler time. My entries are number 34 and 51

    https://my.ptg.org/communities/community-home/digestviewer/viewthread?GroupId=49&MID=651168&CommunityKey=76c8d8e5-6fa1-4522-9fa9-006ff252729b&tab=digestviewer

    Hope this is helpful



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    Karl Roeder
    Pompano Beach FL
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    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Hair straightener/shank removal

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 08-25-2025 20:51

    For any of you getting this as an email I apologize for for the multiple posts. The website made me edit the post half a dozen times.



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    Karl Roeder
    Pompano Beach FL
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    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: Hair straightener/shank removal

    Posted 08-26-2025 09:43
    We use a ConnairCS221N ... most butts that we have used it on have fit ... a couple of the thicker ones simply have to be close to the tip to work.


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    Melanie Brooks
    Brooks LTD LLC
    152 Rte 163 Bldg A
    Uncasville, CT 06382
    800-326-2440



    Original Message