Vertical Touchweight

[Farrell]

I just did a couple DWs, did not have time for UWs, will be going back for
that......and a full touchweight analysis. And of course, DW/UW will be with
dampers out of the picture (unless of course, I want to take that into
account!). I don't think friction is the trouble with this piano - I had the
action out a bit ago for some repairs and all appeared loose, keys have a
bit of side play, etc. My question is after friction is eliminated, where do
we start looking? I can think of spring tension (damper, hammer butt, jack)
as being the next most likely culpret (or not?). I have not found any
reference to how much spring pressure/tension there should be in the
vertical piano. Do you just adjust toward less pressure to go to a minimal
amount of hammer butt spring pressure that still allows acceptable hammer
return? - same with dampers?

The lady stated that this piano has had a heavy action since day one (she is
original owner).

Terry Farrell

----- Original Message -----
From: "Richard Brekne" <Richard.Brekne@grieg.uib.no>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Thursday, November 01, 2001 4:36 PM
Subject: Re: Vertical Touchweight


> First a quick question... just so we are sure we are on the same track ok
Terry
> ?... Your UW and DW figures.... are they with the dampers pulled out of
the
> picture (damper pedal engaged) or do they include the "weight" of the
dampers ?
>
> RicB
>
> Farrell wrote:
>
> > I have a client with a 1963 Baldwin Hamilton 45" studio. She complains
of
> > heavy touch. DW is in the 60 to 70 gram range. There appears to be very
> > little written on vertical piano touchweight. Is there anything in the
1979
> > or newer Journals? I have the CDs, but I can't do a search.
> >
> > Not having done much touchweight on a vertical, I was hoping for some
input
> > from ya'll.
> >
> > I figure first do DW & UW and look at friction (I think on this piano,
this
> > will not be the problem): key bushing, flanges, capstan/wippen.
> >
> > Assuming friction is not the problem, what would be next on a vertical?
Key
> > leading? Hammer butt spring tension? How does one evaluate an optimal
hammer
> > butt tension? Damper spring tension?
> >
> > Seems to me, make sure friction is where it should be. Then make sure
spring
> > tensions are appropriate. Then after that start looking a key leading.
> >
> > This piano is all original and in very, very good condition. Original
owner.
> > Tuned every year. Is it safe to assume that the hammer weight and action
> > geometry are good enough to produce a 50 to 55 gram touchweight? I know
> > manufacturers are capable of some real Lu-Lu's, but on a piano design of
> > which there were 9,654,826,234 built?
> >
> > Terry Farrell
>
> --
> Richard Brekne
> RPT, N.P.T.F.
> Bergen, Norway
> mailto:rbrekne@broadpark.no
>
>