Hammer softening

[Gary Fluke]

Re: Hammer softeningThank you all who responded to my question.


Gary Fluke
Snohomish, WA
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Alan Barnard 
  To: pianotech at ptg.org 
  Sent: Tuesday, October 02, 2007 3:26 PM
  Subject: Re: Hammer softening


  It is no more dangerous than household bleach, ammonia, CA glue, isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol, airplane glue, contact cement and a lot of other stuff we use in the all-American household. 

  A. Use in well ventilated area
  B. Avoid getting on skin, wash off if you do
  C. Don't drink it

  Alan Barnard
  Salem, MO




------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Original message
  From: "Avery Todd" 
  To: "Pianotech List" 
  Received: 10/2/2007 4:38:48 PM
  Subject: Re: Hammer softening


  Sorry, it's not worth the risk to me! See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methanol
  Especially scroll on down to the bottom to "Health and Safety". 

  Avery Todd
   
  On 10/2/07, Michael Kurta <mkurta at roadrunner.com> wrote: 
        Hi Gary:
        This is a direct quote from the Baldwin service manual:
        "For a Softer Tone:  A mixture of 25% water and 75% methanol can be applied to the hammers to produce a mellower tone in Baldwin hammers.  Care should be taken not to apply to stapled areas.  The solution can be applied to the shoulders for moderate changes or to the strike point for more severe changes.  It is recommended in most cases not to apply the solution to the top octave and lowest octave since these areas usually require more tone accentuation to be musically pleasing.  It takes about 20-30 minutes for the solution to work.  Fine voicing can then be performed with shallow needling to the hammers as needed to provide a consistent note to note tone." 
        I've used this solution for years and found it to work well.
    Methanol BTW, is non-permanent anti-freeze and can sometimes be found at farm supply stores.  Its also found in windshield washer fluid, but I'm not sure what else is in there and the proportion of water to methanol. 
        Mike Kurta, Syracuse chapter  
        Mike Kurta, Syracuse chapter

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