Carbon fiber durability

[Don Mannino]

Mark,

You would need to strike the shaft very forcefully against something rather 
sharp-edged to create a nick that would affect the strength.  Small surface 
dings in the resin won't harm it - you would need to create a pretty good 
crushed area to compromise the strength.

I am not at all careful in handling my Faulk lever.  I keep it in a sack to 
protect the wood of the handle, but that's all.

Don Mannino

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mark Schecter" <mark at schecterpiano.com>
To: "Pianotech" <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Saturday, September 06, 2008 12:48 PM
Subject: Carbon fiber durability


> Hi, all.
>
> Thinking about changing to a carbon fiber tuning lever, I'm wondering 
> about some concerns raised in the bicycle industry about CF's 
> vulnerability to impact damage. Specifically, when a CF tube is dinged or 
> crimped, its structural integrity, i.e. its strength and durability, are 
> compromised, and it's considered unrepairable.  Of course, a bicycle crash 
> probably involves a lot higher forces than banging your tuning hammer 
> against a plate strut, but still, does anybody have any idea whether CF 
> hammers are vulnerable to dings, crushing, fatigue, or other kinds of 
> damage or forces likely to be sustained in our work? Has anybody had any 
> experience with the CF hammer they are using being damaged? Thanks.
>
> -Mark Schecter
>