New Tuning Hammer

[Conrad Hoffsommer]

At 06:47 AM 9/14/2005 -0500, you wrote:
>One thing about using more than one tuning lever is the affect on your
>hands.
>
>When I was younger (a looooong time ago) I had met some technicians who
>had lost some of their hearing.  I've been very cautious of my hearing
>all my life fearing that a loss would necessitate an early retirement.
>I always used hearing protectors while tuning, in the shop etc.  Now
>that I'm past the age of retiring early, my hearing is still good,
>however, my hands are now the more likely part of my body to cause
>serious retirement thoughts.  I've recently been using a ball type
>hammer on grands and the Schaff extension hammer on upwrongs.  This has
>helped my hands to have a change of grip throughout the day.  Anything
>you do A LOT should have some variety involved so you don't stress parts
>of your body.
>
>Take care of your ears, but also take care of your hands.
>
>dp
>
>David M. Porritt
>dporritt@smu.edu


I definitely agree with Dave about the bodily stress and hearing. Hearing 
protection is worth it, no matter what the cost!

I recently had an audiogram taken.  I wasn't experiencing any problems, but 
I knew it had been a while. (I found out it had been 8 yrs...)

For a variety of reasons, the hospital didn't have my '97 test results, but 
DID have my '89 results. The difference between '89 and '05 was within the 
margin of error.   (I'd REALLY like to get ahold of the test results from 
my Navy discharge physical in '73 for comparison.)

I've been wearing some sort of hearing protection ever since working in 
those engine rooms, and tuned a LOT of pianos and organs since. I have my 
earplugs along at a lot of concerts, also.  My hearing _should_ last until 
I retire from my college job.  With luck, and continued usage of hearing 
protection, a lot longer...


Re: variety

Wrist/shoulder/back injury IS painful. I developed carpal tunnel syndrome 
years ago by overdoing stuff. I'd do 6-8 pianos a day with gusts up to 10 
or more. 4-5 is my maximum now.

Listen to your body! If you have pain, CHANGE SOMETHING!  It may be as 
simple as changing or varying your posture. You may need to change tuning 
hammers and/or technique.  In my case, after my surgeries in '87, I changed 
my workload _and_ my technique. About four years ago, I started to use an 
ETD which cut down on the number of passes for pitch raises - "bulk tuning" 
for school isn't near the work it used to be.

I also changed my attitude.  Just because I was fast and could tune a bunch 
of pianos in a given amount of time didn't mean I HAD to.  There are roses 
to be smelled.




Conrad Hoffsommer - Keyboard Technician
Luther College, 700 College Dr., Decorah, Iowa 52101-1045
1-(563)-387-1204 // Fax 1-(563)-387-1076

- Right now, I'm hoping to live until my age matches my golf score,
- Until then, I'll have to be content to have my IQ match my handicap.