Touchweight quick fix(Medical tubing)

[David Renaud]

1.5" segments,  added nearly 5 grams to the touchweight.
I did this about a year ago, and need to do to measurements
to confirm what I remember(5gr).

The tubing can can purchased with thick(heavy)or thin(light) walls.

At the time I had just rebuilt a 7" Chickering grand with
massive square shanks, which got me wondering about
adding weight by adding mass around a shank.

I was not equipped to measure the weight of the segments,
only the net effect on the key.

I am going to make some measurements with an action model
tonight and post some numbers. I'll try to find out if moving
the segment up or down the shank is useful to adjust the
effect, and by just how much.

I like that this method is relatively unobtrusive to the action,

It would be easy way to experiment with  hammer
weight on a piano observe how tone is altered when
restoring weight( although the hammers may still be deficient)
to a set of hammers that have been filed/worn down.

There seems to be some interest, so I'm going to
get some real specs. on this and post them.

.
David Stanwood wrote:

> David,
>
> Sounds interesting,
>
> What length are your wsgments and how much did they weighon average?
>
> Keith, the bridle strap clips aren't spring steel. Makes me a little nervous
> that they would loosen up..
>
> David Stanwood
>
> >From: David Renaud <studiorenaud@qc.aibn.com>
> >Subject: Re: Touchweight quick fix(Medical tubing)
> >Date: Thu, 08 Feb 2001
> >A use for clear medical hose for touchweight...
> >Client with a GE2. A Yamaha electric grand,
> >with an acoustic style action. Wanted to try a cheap
> >quick solution to increase touchweight as an experiment.
> >
> >I bought clear medical tubing hose, slit it open length wise,
> >cut it into segments.  The segments wrapped snugly around
> >the shanks. Insta-weight!
> >Made quite a difference. Only other thing was to
> >increase the rep. spring tension slightly to compensate
> >for the heavier shanks.
>
> >Easily reversible.
> >No screws, no drilling, no glue, cheap removable parts..
>
> >                                        Any Thoughts
>                                         Dave Renaud
>