Evidence of overlacquered hammers

[ilex cameron ross]

Barbara, we have a set of hammers on a 9' Kawai EX that is just RUINED from
over lacquering, to the point where you can't even get the tone even'ed out.
since we already have a new set of hammers on order for this monster (a term
of endearment, i assure you), i'm going to give this technique a try when i
have time. we did experiment with soaking one of the hammers in lacquer
thinner, then beating it to death on a clean table. it definitely changed
the tone, but it's still got this underlying wonky harshness i can't
describe too well. haven't had the time to try needling the one we treated.
i'm lucky to actually have this opportunity to see what works and what
doesn't when it comes to japanese hammers.

-ilex

}-----Original Message-----
}From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org]On
}Behalf Of Barbara Richmond
}Sent: Wednesday, September 29, 2004 9:41 AM
}To: Pianotech
}Subject: Re: Evidence of overlacquered hammers
}
}
}So what does one do to help it, drench with acetone?  I must admit, I
}haven't tried that yet.
}
}What the heck, even though it's polically incorrect and 9 or ten
}years ago I
}was told I was clogging up the hammers, here's what I've done with hammers
}with too much lacquer and when needling or whatever doesn't do the trick.
}I've had a lot of experience with this, because *every* Steinway at IWU
}(where I was on staff)--except a new D--had been over-lacquered
}and since I
}had no parts budget, I had to do something.
}
}I use a glass syringe (I batted my eye-lashes at the pharmacist 22
}1/2 years
}ago to get it without a prescription) and needle (of course).  Mix 8 parts
}alcohol and one part fabric softener (yeah, yeah, I've heard what
}some folks
}think of fabric softener, but it works).  Carefully, one drop at a
}time--and
}you may only need one drop--on the place that has the lacquer, or
}any other
}place that you want to soften up.   It works and it can sound great.   The
}nice thing about the syringe is it's easier to control where the
}stuff goes
}and with careful use, one can control the size of the drop.  If the sound
}gets brought down too much, do whatever you'd do to brighten it up again
}(filing, iron, etc.).
}
}There you have it.
}
}Barbara Richmond
}
}----- Original Message -----
}From: "David Love" <davidlovepianos@comcast.net>
}To: "'Pianotech'" <pianotech@ptg.org>
}Sent: Wednesday, September 29, 2004 8:28 AM
}Subject: RE: Evidence of overlacquered hammers
}
}
}> It doesn't.  The issue here is not maintaining the strike point.  When
}> the hammer flattens out it strikes the strings on each side of the
}> flattened surface.  Since lacquer is usually applied from the shoulders,
}> the outer edges of the shoulder can be a bit crusty and you can end up
}> with two rather pingy strike points.
}>
}> David Love
}> davidlovepianos@comcast.net
}>
}> -----Original Message-----
}> From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On
}> Behalf Of Jerry Cohen
}> Sent: Wednesday, September 29, 2004 6:16 AM
}> To: 'Pianotech'
}> Subject: RE: Evidence of overlacquered hammers
}>
}> Getting back to the original subject, why would over lacquering cause
}> the
}> hammer to strike the string at 2 different points? Did I misinterpret
}> something?
}>
}> Thanks.
}>
}> Jerry Cohen
}> NJ Chapter
}>
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}
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