Hammer Felt the A quality getting better every day

[Isaac OLEG]

Hi,

As the Wurzen factory does not produce hammers, the pics are of some
Renner hammers with the base reinforced.

I see yet many pianos with this setup, only supposed protecting the
fiber from extra high humidity felt deformation , I.M.O.

The old thought was that the base of the hammer was useless for tone
production and may be firm to serve as a reflector for the felt
rebound. it works up to some point but less naturally than having a
whole free felt in a quality hammer.

Think of  a rubber bowl that is hold in a firm support, the rebound is
supposed to be stronger. A rubber bowl using more its own energy
properties is producing more open tone because it is more "free" when
rebounding.

I suspect the reinforcing is adding a lot of percussive noise because
of more transmission from the shank.

I mean also that it makes only 2/3 of the hammer functional, and, as
it impede our voicing possibilities, I am not found of this setup. It
always induce some kind of dryness or lack of deepness of tone at
forte level, and gives may be more volume but again too dry.

As all the reinforced part can't be used to "wake up" a hammer that is
why most prefer non reinforced theses days. Yet some brand marketing
dept advertise that their hammers are reinforced as a quality sign,
but they don't know why they say that IMO.
Have also an effect on the gluing , but I believe it is yet an old
story now.

Because of the "scratchy" quality of the Laoureux felt, I gave a call
at the felt factory once and asked if some impregnation was used at
some moment for hammer felt. I was answered that the felt sheet are
supposed to be free of any additive and that is how they are sold to
the hammer makers.

A good density hammer with enough tension will make that scratchy
noise while needled, may be also after heat have been applied (during
the pressing) and some retractation of the fiber have occured, that
should be the sign then of the heat quantity used during the  process.


Isaac OLEG









-----Message d'origine-----
De : pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org]De la
part de Phillip Ford
Envoye : mercredi 19 mai 2004 20:24
A : pianotech@ptg.org
Objet : RE: Hammer Felt the A quality getting better every day


Isaac Oleg wrote:

>Hi Phil,
>..
>
>Notice that the original "AA" quality from Wurzen have get so much
>better in a few days that it is now the AAAA quality !
>
>...
>best regards , I like to live those days !

Those guys are amazing.  The quality never stops.

On a related topic.  I noticed the picture on the Wurzen site showing
the
hammers had one hammer that looked like it was reinforced.  The fad
these
days seems to be for unreinforced hammers.  Any thoughts or comments
about
whether or not reinforcing is useful or beneficial?

Phil Ford


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