Hammers

[Farrell]

>"or you could ask someone in Florida. They should have
> the same problems in July / September."

Well, 99% of the homes in Florida have central air conditioning, providing
one of the most piano-friendly environments around. BUT, there are a few
folks down here (or up here depending on your perspective) that do not have
AC. I service a turn-of-the-century Baldwin R that the woman has had all her
life (she is about 75 years old), it resides in her home which her
grandfather built in 1886 - except for plumbing and electricity - which
remains completely original with palm fronds covering the walls and original
wood floors and ceiling. I service this lady's piano all winter until about
April - I'll do my last tuning and tell her I'll see her in November (she is
an accomplished pianist and I do a lot of fine (or as fine as I can) work
for her). Her piano has the original soundboard - excellent crown, no
cracks, and the piano screams (pleasantly mind you - Abel
hammers...Hmmmmmmm). Pitch doesn't seem to vary more than about 10 cents at
environmental extremes (she has called me for service in the middle of the
summer - whoa, is it ever hot - tuning case in one hand, high-powered fan in
the other). But I do suspect this one case is a bit unusual.

Terry Farrell
Piano Tuning & Service
Tampa, Florida
mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "Tony Caught" <caute@optusnet.com.au>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Friday, December 29, 2000 9:52 AM
Subject: Re: Hammers


> Hi Clyde,
>
> Yes the glue gives away too but I have seen many a hammer that has also
> pulled out the T rivet as well. For 16 years I have been living in this
> lovely place called Darwin and when you go to a piano in the wet, and if
the
> piano has not been fitted with a Dampp-chaser de-humidity system, its out
> with the hair dryer to free the action (dry the wool out) drop the pitch
by
> 25 cents in the middle section (from the bass break for maybe 15 notes
then
> the piano is generally close to pitch in the treble and the bass.  Do it
> reasonably well but remember you are going to have to raise the pitch back
> to A440 in three months so be good but don't try too hard because in an
hour
> whilst you have the piano open so much moisture get in that is starts
> causing more sticky notes while you are sitting there tuning the piano.
> (with no fan on because this makes it worse.
>
> Now peoples, please don't tell me that the wood (maple or birch or
whatever)
> absorbs moisture that fast.
>
> Maybe you guys would like me to make a non stop video of this happening on
a
> three year old Yamaha piano so that you have documented proof, or you
could
> take my word for it, or you could ask someone in Florida. They should have
> the same problems in July / September.
>
> Regards
>
> Tony Caught ICPTG
> Australia
> caute@optusnet.com.au
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Clyde Hollinger <cedel@supernet.com>
> To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
> Sent: Friday, December 29, 2000 9:49 PM
> Subject: Hammers
>
>
> > Friends,
> >
> > I always thought hammer felt separated from the molding because the glue
> lost
> > its holding power, which I attributed to high humidity.  Is there a
> general
> > consensus?  Is the real culprit the swelling felt?
> >
> > Regards,
> > Clyde Hollinger, RPT, Lititz, PA, USA
> >
> > P.S.  People around here are stocking up for a big snowstorm which is
> supposed
> > to arrive tonight.  Big is a relative term, I know.  They're calling for
> 6-12
> > inches, possibly more.
> >
> > Tony Caught wrote:
> >
> > > Hi Jim,
> > >
> > > Hammer heads are made of lamb's wool felt (generally Australian lamb's
> wool)
> > > and yes, this expands with humidity, to a point where the increased
> tension
> > > causes by this swelling causes the hammer to lift of the wood.
> Especially
> > > when there are no staples holding the hammer felt into shape.  You
have
> seen
> > > hammer heads with the felts popped off ?.  This is common in areas of
> high
> > > humidity.
> >
>
>