hard grand hammers

[Glenn Grafton]

>     Actually, acetone alone will make regular, non-lacquered hammers,
>brighter, not softer. It works almost as well as key top solution. Steam and
>alcohol are good "starters" for a voicing on really hard hammers, but you're
>still going to have to get out the ol' needles. Period!
>
>>  You can wash excess lacquer deeper in to the hammer and away from the
>crown
>>  with an acetone application.  You don't need to assist it with a vacuum
>>  device?.  The amount you use will vary depending on the lacquer content of
>>  the hammer and your goal.  It is not, however, a perfect solution for over
>>  lacquered hammers.  A solid mass of lacquer deep in the hammer has a way
>of
>>  destroying any resilience and tends to create a kind of thuddy tone, at
>>  least in my experience.  I don't know about acetone on Japanese hammers.
>>  Alcohol or steam seem to be the applications of choice these days.  And
>  > then, there's always needles!?!?!?!?

Maybe on non-lacuered hammers it will make them brighter, however on 
lacquered hammers it does help.

I've actually used lacquer thinner on hardened hammers. The logic is 
that lacquer thinner thins lacquer. What it does is to dissolve the 
lacquer away from the surface of the hammer felt. Still will need 
needling.
-- 
Glenn Grafton
Grafton Piano & Organ Co.
1081 County Line Rd.
Souderton PA 18964
http://www.graftonpiano.com/
glenn@graftonpiano.com
800-272-5980

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