Transporting a Grand Action - Hammer filing dust in the home

[Garret Traylor]

I have pretty much always filed hammers at the client's venue (Institutional
and Home).  If I think it will take more than 5 to 6 hours, I might bring an
action to the shop but I can't remember when that happened last. If the
piano is in really bad shape, this gives us a reason to schedule a future
appointment.  For hammer filing dust, I use a canister vacuum similar to
this Dirt-Devil vacuum
http://www.eureka.com/products/canister/3684d/3684d.jsp; works great as I
clean in and around the piano too. When my old Dirt-Devil wears out (almost
20 years old and still going strong) I will likely go to a Dyson bag-less
canister vac. There is a learned technique to positioning the vacuum hose
very close to your work in order to intercept the dust before it jettisons
into the atmosphere.  With this method, I don't need a face mask.  I change
the disposable bag frequently (not when it gets full).  For transportation
of the action, Dave Stanwood taught me this:  I keep a few lengths of
shipping stick in my service vehicle to tie the hammers to the action.
Next, place a shipping quilt on the floor or on top of the piano (I use a
thinner quality) and thoughtfully/carefully tape quilt around the action
with clear shippers tape. The action is easy to carry (you can even fashion
a handle of tape). This process has saved me from (never again) accidently
chipping a key or snapping a hammer.  In the future as my body rejects these
long hours at one sitting, I may likely heed the experience of others and
bring the action to the shop.

Footnote: I have some nice lettering on my work van.  I think I also choose
to work at a clients location so that my presence and the marketing of my
van have greater impact on the customer perception of work being done and to
their neighbors or passersby.

Kindest Regards,
Garret 

-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of David Skolnik
Sent: Friday, July 18, 2008 6:26 AM
To: ilvey at sbcglobal.net; Pianotech List
Subject: Re: Transporting a Grand Action - Hammer filing dust in the home

At 02:49 AM 7/18/2008, David Ilv wrote:
>I take keys to be bushed to the shop...new hammers...lots of repairs 
>need to be done in the shop...hammer filing, flange rebushing ain't 
>one of them...imho

Just curious...how do you deal with hammer dust in customer's 
home?  Do you wear a mask when filing?

David Skolnik
Hastings on Hudson, NY