[CAUT] hammer softener

[Greg Granoff]

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
>
>