Hammer Softener

[Randy Potter]

I have a question about using fabric softener on hammers:

I have used it before, on Kawai grands at Baylor University with Danny
Boone during one of our Advanced Training Seminars several years ago.
Brushing it sparingly on the surface of the hammer, from about 10:30-1:30
position, with an artists paintbrush, resulted in taking a
way-to-overpowering-bright piano to very pleasantly mellow instrument.

But I have never done it since, primarily because I never encountered
another instrument which needed that much voicing. (Perhaps I lead a
charmed life. As it was, we had to listen to a great number of the 40+
two-year-old grands in their practice rooms to find one that had been
beat enough for the hammers to become harsh enough to try this out.

The question is - what do you do if it oversoftens the hammers? What
solution or process do you use to "undo" the process? After you put
no-cling / non-stick stuff on the felt, what can you put on it to "undo"
your work, if it is needed?

Randy Potter, R.P.T.

Randy Potter, R.P.T.
Randy Potter School of Piano Technology
"Training Competent Piano Technicians Into the 21st Century"
Celebrating 10 Years, with students & graduates in over 55 countries!
See our web page at www.tuningschool.com
We are accepting registrations for our 1997 Hands-on Training Seminar
July 6-13, 1997 @ Northwestern College in St. Paul, MN.