[CAUT] Self voicing hammers/work hardening

[Barbara Richmond]

Thanks, Susan, I'm always happy to be adding to the arsenal.

Here's how I use keytop/acetone:  Take a metal tuning mute handle.  Dip it 
in the mixture, come out with a small (and it's small!) drop, put it in the 
offending string groove(s).  I feel like this is the ultimate control--much 
less is applied than with an eye dropper and it's better than a syringe, 
because you can actually see how much is being used.  Because it's so fast, 
it's one of those tools that is always with me on stage......

Later!

Barbara Richmond

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Susan Kline" <skline@peak.org>
To: "College and University Technicians" <caut@ptg.org>
Sent: Tuesday, May 24, 2005 12:07 AM
Subject: Re: [CAUT] Self voicing hammers/work hardening


> Hi, Barbara
>
> I got my shellac flakes from this place on the net -- I just checked that 
> they are still there.
>
> http://www.woodfinishingsupplies.com/Shellac.htm
>
> They seem to carry Behlen products, which Ed suggested. They also have 200 
> proof denatured alcohol, which has no methanol or water in it. 9% 
> isopropyl, and a couple of other things in it. I've used bulk ethanol from 
> the liquor store, 190 proof, and it works well. People have told me that 
> some states don't allow 190 proof to be sold, though.
>
> I did try very dilute keytop/acetone on a few notes once, and I must admit 
> that I heard that spicky clicky sound ever afterward, even after 
> needling -- though I didn't go so far as to try to soak it out with 
> acetone. It was after that experience, and after reading a hint from 
> Horace saying that Steinway used to use shellac (they'd just use whatever 
> their finishing department used) that I tried shellac and really like it. 
> Nontoxic, as well, especially if made up with pure ethanol. Nice little 
> lac bug -- 
> friend of man.
>
> The color -- well, one doesn't want the hammers grossly stained, like they 
> would be with some shellacs, but having just a little color in there (like 
> the ultrablonde color) isn't totally bad. It lets one see exactly how far 
> the solution is wicking. And, like Horace says, how they sound is what 
> really matters.
>
> Regards,
> Susan
>