[CAUT] VS Profelt

[Chris Solliday]

Pianotek does sell a "Hammer Softener" (formula inknown to me) and as far as
I know does not recommend VSProfelt for hammers.
Chris Solliday
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ed Sutton" <ed440 at mindspring.com>
To: <caut at ptg.org>
Sent: Wednesday, November 19, 2008 11:00 AM
Subject: Re: [CAUT] VS Profelt


> Nick's formula was made of fabric softener and rubbing alcohol, which is
> about 30% water. he called for liberal soaking into the shoulders. I used
it
> successfully for a while, until I applied it to a set of new Baldwin
> hammers. As I got to note 88 I looked back and watched as the hammers went
> "pop" up the scale.
> As for VSP, I wonder about the wisdom of applying even tiny amounts of
> silicone to a hammer surface that contacts wound strings. Silicone likes
to
> travel, and the inpacts and vibrations should give it plenty of help. I
> worked in a school where my predecessor believed in applying silicone to
the
> bridges "to help the strings slide." All of the bass strings were dead on
> those pianos.
> Ed S.
>
> Fred wrote:
> > I got some unscented fabric softener (hard to find), and will do a  bit
of
> > experimentation on things like hard dampers and hammers. As I  wrote in
an
> > earlier post, Nick Gravagne swore by alcohol and fabric  softener for
> > those rock hard hammers. I never got around to trying.  For dampers, I
> > would try more water in the formulation. Certainly the  silicone is
> > useless for both applications.
> > At $12 a quart, VSP is too pricey for my wallet unless it turns out  to
be
> > very extra special indeed, if I can buy a lifetime supply of  softener
for
> > $5, and use either powdered teflon or Protek for  lubrication. I'll be
> > trying it out to see whether it out-performs  "homebrew." Or steaming
and
> > heated cauls for key bushings.
> > Regards,
> > Fred Sturm
> > University of New Mexico
> > fssturm at unm.edu
> >
> >
> >
>
>