[CAUT] hammer softener

[Alan McCoy]

Greg,

Did you contact Pianotek about the formula? I'm curious now, given your
recent experience.

Alan


> From: Greg Granoff <gjg2 at humboldt.edu>
> Reply-To: "College and University Technicians <caut at ptg.org>" <caut at ptg.org>
> Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2006 14:14:27 -0800
> To: "College and University Technicians <caut at ptg.org>" <caut at ptg.org>
> Subject: Re: [CAUT] hammer softener
> 
> Thanks Alan,
> I share your sentiments mostly about this procedure.  I too am long time
> user of needles and elbow grease, and have also had only mixed results with
> steam (though when it works, it *does* work--I'll give it that). But
> recently I had a Hamilton vertical in the shop that had gone so bright and
> hard despite only minor hammer wear and fairly agressive voicing in the past
> that it made my ears bleed.  I happened upon a jar of unused Pianotek hammer
> softener I'd forgotten was around, and thought "why not?"  I put it on
> carefully in a thin layer at the 11 and 1 position of the shoulders,
> allowing it to soak up just under the crown, and got excellent results.  I
> don't know how long this will last under fire, but it was so easy I couldn't
> believe it.  Despite being needled, the hammers didn't open up, though I
> have seen that unpleasant effect from steaming.  I figure I might need to do
> this again, hence the questions about formulas.
> 
> Greg
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Alan McCoy" <amccoy at mail.ewu.edu>
> To: <caut at ptg.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, October 31, 2006 10:47 AM
> Subject: Re: [CAUT] hammer softener
> 
> 
>> Hi Greg,
>> 
>> I've used straight isopropyl with mixed results. Also used different mixes
>> of methanol and water. Had one Walter piano where the methanol/water
>> solution simply did not penetrate at all. Rolled off the hammer felt like
>> water off a duck. I've also used steam also with mixed results. If these
>> hammers have been previously needled, watch out. Water (liquid or hot
> vapor)
>> can induce in the technician full-scale, sweaty panic as the hammer opens
>> up. Not a swell feeling, I can tell you.  (Grin, only in hindsight)
>> 
>> These days I only use needles and lots and lots of elbow grease. I charge
>> for it. I just don't feel like I have control over the alcohol/water or
>> steam.
>> 
>> Alan
>> 
>> 
>> -- Alan McCoy, RPT
>> Eastern Washington University
>> amccoy at mail.ewu.edu
>> 509-359-4627
>> 
>> 
>>> From: Greg Granoff <gjg2 at humboldt.edu>
>>> Reply-To: "College and University Technicians <caut at ptg.org>"
> <caut at ptg.org>
>>> Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2006 10:36:16 -0800
>>> To: CAUT <caut at ptg.org>
>>> Subject: [CAUT] hammer softener
>>> 
>>> Well, after Alan's post about archive searches, I almost made my subject
> line
>>> "OK, Brainiacs...." but though better of it.
>>> My question:  anyone know what exactly is in the hammer softening liquid
> sold
>>> by Pianotek, for example?  Anyone have their own favorite homemade
> formula?
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Thanks,
>>> Greg
>>> 
>>> Gregory J. Granoff
>>> Staff Piano Technician
>>> HSU
>> 
>> 
> 
>