[CAUT] tone building for impatient pianists

[David Love]

That's why I gave up putting in lacquer from the sides.  Hard on the back
and not any more effective than applying it from the shoulders-nor does it
prevent it from leaching to the crown anyway.  Moreover, I think you are
looking for increasing the overall density of the hammer incrementally, not
hardening one spot.   Apply from the shoulders and put a couple of drops of
pure acetone on the crown after you are done if you want to keep it from
getting crusty on top.   But if you must, pull the action, set one side down
on a non skid surface (like carpet), lean the action against a wall, swing
one hammer out at a time, apply the lacquer, swing it back.  

 

David Love

www.davidlovepianos.com

 

From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Tim
Coates
Sent: Friday, November 21, 2008 3:49 PM
To: caut at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [CAUT] tone building for impatient pianists

 

Fred,

 

You might tell Paul how much material you apply.  He asked about "a few
drops" on the sides.  I know there isn't a definite answer.   And Paul
remember the more vertical the action sits the less likely the floor end
will slide.

 

Tim Coates

 

On Nov 21, 2008, at 5:35 PM, Fred Sturm wrote:





            Well, I guess getting it there into position is the hard part,
if the stack is still on the keyframe with keys. It's heavy and awkward. If
it's a Steinway, there is space between the bass and tenor sections to get
an index finger around the hammer rail. So grab there with the left hand,
use the right on the treble side of the keyframe somewhere, and you'll have
a good solid grasp of the whole assembly. Then lower one end to the floor.
You can slide the bottom of the frame along a piano bench or something if
that makes it easier.  Once you have one end on the ground, slide it along
the floor, grabbing one of the cross members of the keyframe if that makes
it easier (then you are on the other side from the hammers and less likely
to catch one on something). Or you can lift with one hand on one of the
cross members and have your other hand on the top of the keyframe, and carry
it to a wall. Get it upright and leaning solidly and stable against a wall
so you don't have to be holding it precariously with one hand while working
on parts with another.

            Then apply your material, swinging each hammer out in turn.
Maybe stand on something to be able to see the top hammers. Turning it over
to get the other side can be done a few ways. The easiest is to turn it
enough so that you can lower the high end to the floor. Then lift the other
end until it is upright. 

            IOW, yes, get over it <G>.

            You can also just apply material to the sides of the hammers
with the keyframe and action in normal position on a table. It will wick in
nicely. But it is harder to see exactly what you are doing, and to control
it, without a bit of experience..

Regards,

Fred Sturm

University of New Mexico

fssturm at unm.edu

 

 

 

On Nov 21, 2008, at 4:14 PM, Paul T Williams wrote:






That's what I mean, Fred. 

Maybe I'm just too nervous about tipping an action up on end while doing
something else to it.  I want to stay focused on the job at hand and have
the action safe! 
Should I just rest the action end on a table and steady it with some sort of
block on the floor? or just hold it with my shoulder while applying the
solution? I'm really nervous about putting an action on its' end. Maybe I
should just get over it?!!!  Do I apply a few drops on one side...flip the
action around and apply a few drops to the other side, or what? 


Paul 





Fred Sturm <fssturm at unm.edu> 
Sent by: caut-bounces at ptg.org

11/21/2008 05:04 PM 


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Re: [CAUT] tone building for impatient pianists

 

		




On Nov 21, 2008, at 7:00 AM, Paul T Williams wrote: 

So...what is the safest method for tipping the action to a vertical
position? 

Hi Paul, 
I'm not sure what you mean. Do you mean something like bass hammers to the
floor, treble to the ceiling, for purposes of applying something to the
sides of the hammers? In which case I just lean it against a handy wall, a
simple matter of slow and careful. Or do you mean something else?
Regards, 
Fred Sturm 
University of New Mexico 
fssturm at unm.edu 



 

 

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