[CAUT] Getting lacquer out of hammers - follow up

[David Ilvedson]

I'd be interested in what is done with the flushee...i.e. thinner and solids?   Is it used to harden hammers?   

David Ilvedson, RPT
Pacifica, CA  94044

----- Original message ----------------------------------------
From: "Barbara Richmond" <piano57 at comcast.net>
To: caut at ptg.org
Received: 6/11/2009 2:05:44 PM
Subject: Re: [CAUT] Getting lacquer out of hammers - follow up


>Hmm, maybe it's as simple as the folks in San Fransisco have a different concept of 
>tone than Cincinnati Conservatory. Who knows about the plasticky stuff--is it 
>possible to truly identify whatever solids that are flushed out? Dunno... 

>Barbara Richmond, RPT 
>near Peoria, Illinois 


>----- Original Message ----- 
>From: "Eric Wolfley (wolfleel)" <WOLFLEEL at UCMAIL.UC.EDU> 
>To: "caut at ptg.org" <caut at ptg.org> 
>Sent: Thursday, June 11, 2009 3:06:08 PM GMT -06:00 US/Canada Central 
>Subject: Re: [CAUT] Getting lacquer out of hammers - follow up 

>Israel, 

>Since last December we have received 72 new Steinway grands including 2 Ds and 
>20 Bs which we selected in NY. During my 4 trips to the NY selection room in the 
>course of a month I developed a pretty good rapport with Dirk and Terry who are 
>the concert technicians preparing pianos for the selection room. The official word I 
>got from them and others there at the factory including Kent Webb and Eric 
>Schandall is that each set of hammers is pre-soaked before installation in 3:1 
>lacquer/acetone. The whole set is dipped for 30 seconds is what I was told. In the 
>later voicing operations they will apply more 3:1 acetone/lacquer to the crown if 
>they think it is necessary. My experience with these pianos as well as with other sets 
>from Steinway I have ordered and installed is that more often than not more 
>lacquering is necessary, especially in the high treble and bass. I don't know of any 
>"plasicky" stuff that is being used at Steinway. The concert techs used to use an 
>acetone/keytop solution applied very sparingly (2 or 3 drops) to the crown if a note 
>needed a bit more attack but they are now using acetone/lacquer in the same way 
>instead, at least at the factory. When I hear stories like yours I am always amazed 
>because my experience has been so different. I have had a lot of contact with the 
>Steinway folks at the factory over the years having taken all the Steinway Academy 
>classes and going there for many selections so I don't think my experience could be 
>seen as being isolated. I am very pleased with the hammers Steinway is making 
>today and am having wonderful results here at the Conservatory as well as with the 
>work I do on C&A pianos for the Cincinnati Symphony. It concerns me that others 
>might read your post and think that Steinway is sending out hammers that are 
>"pre-plasticked" and unusable which simply has not been my experience. 

>Eric 

>Eric Wolfley, RPT 
>Director of Piano Services 
>College-Conservatory of Music 
>University of Cincinnati