kneading hammers

[Rupert Williams]

My original query cited Howe's book, which turns out
to be the Revised 3rd edition of 1963 (not 1948 when
it was first published - sorry about that).

On p.61 he says:
   "Another method of softening the hammers has proved
   satisfactory: Take a pair of gas-pliers and squeeze
   the felt in both directions alternately: in other 
   words, knead it with the pliers".

So far this idea of alternate directions has not been
mentioned by contributors.

( The idea that the tone can also be strengthened is
intriguing me (see below).  Seeing most contributors
have said avoid squeezing the tip, it would seem that
they would have strengthened the tone rather than
mellow it by squeezing elsewhere.  Most contributors 
have said squeezing is like a lot of needling - which
always softens does it not? )

I am now very interested in what exactly happens to
the
fibers of felt when it is needled / squeezed.

I did do a gentle lateral pliers squeezing on my old
Bluthner upright, and have done no permanent damage:
in fact, after a few weeks playing it sounds much
better to me, although it was a bit muffled
immediately afterwards.  Further experiments will be
confined to my wife's spinnette!


Rupert


--- Joe And Penny Goss <imatunr at srvinet.com> wrote:

> Hi Dean,
> At the tip a little squeeze to reduce harshness ie
> 12 oclock
> Just bearly see the felt move then more if needed.
> At 9 and 3 to get more spring and thus a little
> louder.
> A lot like needles but quicker and less work which
> for my weak hands is a
> plus.
> Joe Goss RPT
> Mother Goose Tools
> imatunr at srvinet.com
> www.mothergoosetools.com
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Dean May" <deanmay at pianorebuilders.com>
> To: "'Pianotech List'" <pianotech at ptg.org>
> Sent: Friday, June 01, 2007 1:53 PM
> Subject: RE: kneading hammers
> 
> 
> > Refresh my memory, Joe. When messaging with the
> vice grips are you trying
> to
> > remove harshness?
> >
> > Dean
> >
> > Dean May             cell 812.239.3359
> >
> > PianoRebuilders.com   812.235.5272
> >
> > Terre Haute IN  47802
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org
> [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On
> Behalf
> > Of Joe And Penny Goss
> > Sent: Friday, June 01, 2007 3:37 PM
> > To: Pianotech List
> > Subject: Re: kneading hammers
> >
> > Hi David,
> > Like most skills used in piano repair/work there
> is a learning curve.
> > Starting in the tenor of most spinnettes is a good
> place to start.
> > Yah can't hurt anything and will quickly get a
> feel for the tool.
> > IMHO Pliers are the more controlable tool to use.
> > Not every hammer is the same and it is best to
> sneak
> > up on the result wanted rather than over do it.
> > Joe Goss RPT
> > Mother Goose Tools
> > imatunr at srvinet.com
> > www.mothergoosetools.com
> > ----- Original Message ----- 
> > From: "David Boyce" <David at piano.plus.com>
> > To: "Pianotech List" <pianotech at ptg.org>
> > Sent: Friday, June 01, 2007 12:37 PM
> > Subject: kneading hammers
> >
> >
> > > You know, the more I think about voicing using
> Vise-Grips rather than
> > > pliers, the less I like it.  I see the logic
> that once it's set up, the
> > > pressure applied to each hammer is theoretically
> the same.  BUT, I think
> > it
> > > would be all too easy to accidentally drop it
> while attached to the
> hammer
> > > felt, or catch it on a sleeve, or in some other
> way do something that
> > might
> > > almost rip the felt off the hammer.(or the
> hammer head off the shank)
> > > because the Grip is gripping it!
> > > Plus, the hammers may not all require the same
> pressure anyway.  It
> sounds
> > > safer and maybe speedier to me to proceed
> cautiously with a not-too-huge
> > > pair of pliers.
> > >
> > > Best,
> > >
> > > David.
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> 
> 



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