ACTION WEIGHTS

[Richard Brekne]

There are three main areas of concern readily available for us to
manipulate concerning touch weight. Leverage, actual parts weights, and
friction. I could have said action geometry instead of leverage and I
suppose it might be correct to say these are not entirely the same
things, tho they are very closely related. In order to understand touch
weight problems you are going to need to set yourself down and do some
reading on the subject, and preferable do a good deal of hands on action
work.

But in direct answer to your query, yes and action can definatly have a
static DW of 50 grams and have overly heavy hammers at the same time.
You could have monster hammers and tons of leverage... which would
result in an akward playing action, probably accompanied with shallow
key dip... maybe even early letoff and drop.

Lots of configurations are possible, tho the window for good playing
actions is rather small in comparison really.

Hope this helps a bit.

RicB

Stuart & Aimee Balsillie wrote:

> To all,I would be most appreciative if anybody would be able to help
> me understand problems with touch weight in actions. I was recently
> talking to a friend who is a piano technician and he was showing me a
> Schimmel grand action he just got in for repair ( not sure what size
> grand as he only had the action but apparently  the piano is 30 years
> old,  and has not been touched by anyone)  He said the touch was very
> heavy, and when he put weights on it the keys would not budge under 60
> grams although this varied from key to key.I asked if it was only due
> to heavy hammers? surely there must be friction problems as well (as I
> am sure Schimmel would not regulate their actions to 60 grams (is this
> assumption right?)   He said yes there was friction problems an he
> proceeded to quickly lubricate the roller on middle C, when he put the
> weights on this key it then moved at around 50 grams. I thought surely
> this would prove that there were friction problems and not hammer
> weight problems, he explained to me that although the weight had
> dropped the hammers were too heavy and that it will not play properly.
> I seem to have an uneasy feeling about this explanation and would be
> most grateful for anyone able to help explain what may be happening in
> this action. sincerely, Stuart BalsilliePiano
> TechnicianKynetonAustraliasabalsillie@bigpond.com




--
Richard Brekne
RPT, N.P.T.F.
Bergen, Norway
mailto:rbrekne@broadpark.no
http://home.broadpark.no/~rbrekne/ricmain.html