[CAUT] lighter touchweight

[David Love]

Hard to say from the info given but I've encountered several Baldwins with
poor leverage and convergence problems from capstan placement.  Coving the
hammers will only take off about .2 grams which will amount to only about
1.2 grams off the touchweight.  You currently (from your description) have a
balance weight around 40 grams.  You should target something more like 36 or
37 grams (my opinion).  Doing that by adding lead is probably not the answer
--again without adequate info.  Without over complicating it, if the action
regulates with relatively shallow dip (<9.5 mm) consider moving the capstan
forward by a few mm's and then possibly removing some lead.  You may have to
add a thin strip of cloth to the wippen heel if it moves off the cushion.
Try a dummy capstan first on a couple of notes.  My experiences with
Baldwins of that era suggest this is the best way to go in this situation.
Not that complicated either.  Remove, plug (epoxy method) and redrill
capstans about 4 hours (plus new capstans--recommended).  Add wippen cloth
(if necessary) 1.5 hours.  Rebalance action (depending on how you do it) 3-4
hours.  Adjust regulation (modify dip) 1 hour.  Plus pick up and delivery.
Approximately, anyway.    

David Love
davidlovepianos at comcast.net 
www.davidlovepianos.com

-----Original Message-----
From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Jeff
Farris
Sent: Wednesday, October 17, 2007 8:34 AM
To: CAUT at ptg.org
Subject: [CAUT] lighter touchweight

Hi List,

I have a customer who wants his 1975 Baldwin 6'8" grand to feel 
lighter. It was virtually unused for many years and recently had an 
action reconditioning and regulation. It weighed off pretty 
reasonable. Downweight averaged low 50's to 50 and upweight averaged 
upper 20's to 30. Friction seemed low if anything. There isn't a lot 
of lead in the keys, as much as four weights in some of the lower 
bass. The hammers have enough "extra" material in the cove to remove 
some in an arc shape.  I'm wondering if doing only that would result 
in enough weight loss to make much difference. Has anyone done this 
procedure not in conjunction with leading, etc. and received good 
results?

Sorry if you already received this. I tried to send this message 
yesterday from a different source computer and don't know if it went 
out. :)

Thanks,
-- 
Jeff Farris
Piano Technician
School of Music
UT Austin
mailto; jfarris at mail.utexas.edu
512-471-0158