[CAUT] Steinway D hammers

[Mark Cramer]

We installed a set on a B several weeks ago, and had to treat the entire set
(full saturation), followed by two more applications to the treble and low
bass.  

The factory application however, was apparent and appreciated; a really good
starting point, and no problem to work with to get a nice warm tonal result.

Where I find the difference in working time though is the final
crown-needling, string-by-string and una-corda. With hard-pressed hammers, a
general sugar-coating seems to get a lot done in a hurry. The Steinways
still need a lot more localized attention, IME anyhow.

Mark Cramer,RPT
Brandon University

   



-----Original Message-----
From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Fred
Sturm
Sent: June 26, 2009 11:30 AM
To: College & University Technicians
Subject: [CAUT] Steinway D hammers

	As I mentioned earlier, in a thread about lacquer and Steinway  
hammers, I was about to install some new Steinway hammers on a D -  
these being current production, dipped in lacquer. I have completed  
the install (along with new action parts), and found what I expected  
from experience: the bottom 4-5 octaves were fine, the top 2 1/2  
octaves very weak (in a curve, getting weakest at the top). I applied  
6:1 lacquer (my own, off the shelf nitrocellulose, which is about  
twice as thick as the stuff Steinway used; hence my formula is  
equivalent to the 3:1 they talk about) to the top sections. And  
lightly sanded after it dried (120 paper).
	Results? Great. Quite nice already, really. Plenty of power to work

with. Easy to stick needles in. This will go fast and end up quite  
decent, I am sure. (A lot less work than 40 plus stitches per shoulder  
with many of the common "hard-pressed" hammers, plus the evening out  
work).
	Bottom line, I don't find the dipped hammers over-lacquered. They  
just save me a step soaking the whole set myself and doing an initial  
sanding (they come pre-sanded as well).
Regards,
Fred Sturm
University of New Mexico
fssturm at unm.edu