Winter Console Hammer Delima

[Billbrpt@AOL.COM]

In a message dated 11/14/98 7:54:14 PM Central Standard Time,
YouthPage8@AOL.COM writes:

<< I was tuning a Winter & Co. Console for a new customer today, and noticed
that
 the felt on three or four hammers in a row was coming unglued...  >>

You got some excellent responses from several members, especially Jim Coleman
and Clyde H.  This was a *very* low priced instrument to begin with.  The kind
of careful replacement or repairs that might be appropriate for a higher
quality instrument sometimes seem to be more than the owner of the piano will
want to pay for.  Moreover, you will run into this problem from time to time
on other, perhaps better made instruments.  Knowing an alternative repair can
also allow you to make a temporary fix until you can make a replacement.

This condition can also be the result of water damage.  In your case, it is
probably the result of the end of the pot of glue they were using.  The glue
was drying up or going bad somehow but it was used anyway.  That is probably
the reason you found four together but no more.  It could also be that an
insufficient amount of glue was applied to these hammers so the bond gave way
sometime later.

In any case, I don't think you'll find the whole set coming loose.  Although
there could be a few more, it is most likely that the glue failure will be
limited to a small fraction of the hammers, not the entire set.  You can look
at this in a positive way.  If only 8 or 9 hammers come apart, you have 90% of
them that didn't.  A 10% failure rate isn't too bad.

I recommend the CA glue suggestions.  If you are not experienced with CA glue,
you can find it in most hobby stores, right next to the model airplanes that
people crack up.  It's meant mainly to repair them.  You can usually find it
in 3, sometimes 4 viscosities:  water thin, medium, thick and sometimes a gel
form.  The thick (about like honey) will work the best but if you can't find
any, the medium will do.  The thin is too thin for this repair.  The gel
probably will work just fine but it cures very slowly, even with the
accelerator.

The accelerator comes in a little pump aerosol bottle and it is used by
spraying the treated area.  It is a catalyst.  It causes the glue to harden
very quickly with a chemical chain reaction.  This reaction produces heat and
sometimes a little smoke.  If you get CA glue on your skin and the accelerator
activates it, it will burn you.

I suggest coating both the felt and the wood liberally with the glue.  You
probably don't have a clamp or other tool that will really press and hold the
felt where it belongs.  So before applying the glue, see if your fingers are
strong enough to press the felt back to the wood.  You can put on a pair of
rubber gloves to avoid getting glue or the accelerator on your skin.  Apply
the glue, then with one hand squeeze the felt into place and quickly spray the
glue line and felt liberally with the accelerator.  You will need to keep the
pressure on for at least 20-30 seconds.  If you release too soon, the felt
will separate and it will be very difficult to work any more with this hammer.
With the accelerator present, you can't add more glue.  It will begin to
harden as you try to apply it.

Jim and Richard both mentioned that the tone will be affected.  Actually, I
have made some repairs where it didn't seem to be, but it usually is.  The
hammer will probably sound softer anywhere from a little to a lot.  The
question is, "Will the customer notice the difference in tone?"  If so, using
a little keytop and acetone solution to brighten up the repaired hammers
should work quite well.  In many cases, the difference in tone will not be a
problem for the customer, especially with this kind of piano.  If the repair
is sufficient, leave well enough alone.

Keep in mind that CA glue is expensive and knowing how to use it is a skill
worth money.  The piano may not merit expensive repairs but this kind of
repair is still worth little extra money.  It is not a usual adjustment or
service that one might expect with a tuning.  This alternative saves the
customer a lot of money over the replacement option.  Therefore, don't be
afraid to charge what it has been worth to you.

Sincerely,
Bill Bremmer RPT
Madison, Wisconsin