[CAUT] Schimmel attacked by fabric softener

[Joseph D. Gotta, RPT]

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"It also feels good on a bald head after a difficult tuning."
 
HA !  Also works well as a hand and key sanitizer in cold and flu
season.  Vodka has approximately the same alcohol water ratio as rubbing
alcohol and can help DURING one of those difficult tunings. :-)
 
Joseph D. Gotta RPT
 
-----Original Message-----
From: caut-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of Ed
Sutton
Sent: Saturday, May 21, 2005 9:02 PM
To: College and University Technicians
Subject: Re: [CAUT] Schimmel attacked by fabric softener
 
Jeff-
 
For about 2 years I've been finishing most tunings with a very light
spritz of rubbing alcohol with about 1/32 of fabric softener and a very
light pass over the hammers with a brass brush.  I emphasize -VERY
LIGHT- in both cases.  More recently I've stopped adding the fabric
softener, and can't hear any difference in the result.
 
I have wondered if the fabric softener smell is better customer
relations than pure rubbing alcohol.  A few drops would do that.
 
Perhaps a pounding test would show the fabric softener voicing lasts
longer?
 
The formulas using fabric softener always used rubbing alcohol as the
carrier. (A few years ago it was suggested to apply it very heavily to
the shoulders, like hammer hardener. It's a fast way to ruin hammers;
don't do it unless you are ready to replace the hammers if they come
unglued from the moulding.)
 
My feeling at this time is that the water in the rubbing alcohol is the
effective agent.  The alcohol carries it a little deeper into the felt,
and the dilution makes sure that it is a very small amount of water.
 
It also feels good on a bald head after a difficult tuning.
 
Ed Sutton
 
----- Original Message ----- 
From: Jeff Olson <mailto:jlolson@cal.net>  
To: College and University <mailto:caut@ptg.org>  Technicians
Sent: 5/21/2005 7:27:54 PM 
Subject: Re: [CAUT] Schimmel attacked by fabric softener
 
The interesting question here to me is the effectiveness of fabric
softener as a voicing tool.  Is it possible that it could be effective,
if used intelligently, minus all the steaming, burning, etc.?  What is
the active ingredient in fabric softener, anyway (I must confess I've
never used the stuff; I like my clothes rough and macho, fabricly
speaking;-).
 
Jeffo
----- Original Message ----- 
From: HepplerA@aol.com 
To: caut@ptg.org 
Sent: Friday, May 20, 2005 7:43 AM
Subject: [CAUT] Schimmel attacked by fabric softener
 
One quick question for you more experienced techs out there. . . 
    I have a 7' Schimmel on consignment in the store I work for that
needs some radical changes in the voicing.  To the request of the
previous owner, the bass and upper treble sections have been voiced down
considerably.  Unfortunately, the tooner used fabric softener as well as
excessive steam, as I'm guessing from the shrinkage.  I have just spent
a couple weeks with Boesendorfer in one-on-one voicing training, so I'm
comfortable with most voicing jobs, but this is nasty.  The top 1/4" or
so is as soft as gym socks, it smells like Downy, and there's even a few
scorch marks in the bass.  Is there any point in trying to save this set
of hammers, or should I save myself the agony and just replace them?
O.K., now, control your grimaces. :)
 
Elizabeth Heppler, R.P.T.
Montana State University - Bozeman

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