Damper Felts & Fabric Softener

[Roger Jolly]

Hi Barrie,
              I have used steam with great success, a little safety trick,
take some polythene and masking tape to protect the hammers.  Place action
in cradle with dampers facing down, use an electric kettle and pass the
spout under the dampers about 2 or 3 inches away from the dampers, one
quick pass, repeat as required. A smart guy like you will soon figure it out.
I only have tried fabric softener twice, and there seemed to be some
distortion re shape of damper, it works but you need a longer drying time.
Either way take a hair drier to ensure that the felt is dry,
if damp felt has pressure applied to it, you will end up in the same boat
or worse.
Regards Roger

At 07:16 PM 01/12/98 +0000, you wrote:
>Dear All
>
>I have a trade Knight to come in.  The tuner says that the dampers are
>OK However, it is 20 years old from my experience I would say that the
>wedge dampers are going to be hard and zing.  He has not budgeted for
>new dampers which I did point out he should.... It is his customer, I
>think he is not happy with regulating upright dampers. 
>
>The Q  have you tried   Fabric Softener on damper felts and with what
>results or steam. Getting them clean is not a problem as I can blast
>them will 150 pounds of compressed air through a pin hole nosel, that
>shifts most of the muck.   Since this piano will be over 200 miles away
>I don't fancy travelling down later to fix zinging notes.
>
>Barrie,
>
>
>
>
>--
>
>Barrie Heaton                                  |  Be Environmentally Friendly
>URL: http://www.uk-piano.org/                  |  To Your Neighbour
>The UK Piano Page                              |  
>pgp  key on request                            |  HAVE YOUR PIANO TUNED
> 
Roger Jolly
Baldwin Yamaha Piano Centre
Saskatoon and Regina
Saskatchewan, Canada.
306-665-0213
Fax 652-0505