[pianotech] Spinet: Filing/ Shaping Hammers

[James Grebe]

Did you remove the key sticks first?
James Grebe Est. 1962
Piano Tuner-Technician
Creator of Custom Caster Cups
Creator of fine Writing Instruments
www.grebepiano.com
1526 Raspberry Lane
Arnold, MO 63010
(314) 608-4137
Become what you believe
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Amadeus Piano" <amadeuspiano at comcast.net>
To: <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Monday, August 24, 2009 1:42 PM
Subject: [pianotech] Spinet: Filing/ Shaping Hammers


> Do you always remove the action to file/ shape hammers in a spinet?
>
>
>
> I ask because I read here once that we should never remove a spinet action
> unless absolutely necessary.  I now understand that edict.
>
>
>
> With good faith and naive optimism, I fully intended to remove the action 
> on
> a Wurlitzer ca. 1950 spinet.  I unscrewed the action bracket bolts, I
> unscrewed the little screws holding the front edge down at the back of the
> keybed, I even unscrewed the brace on the fallboard slide to make more 
> room;
> then I tried pulling the little puppy out.
>
>
>
> Yikes.  I couldn't get it to come out.   I could get it moving up and it
> felt like it was coming out, but then it would stop, like there was
> something I missed or it was snagging somewhere.  But I couldn't find what
> was holding it back.  I could get it up about 3 or 4 inches or so, but 
> then
> it seemed to catch.  Looking up from underneath, I couldn't see the 
> problem.
> It wasn't any of the peddle dowels-I've seen them screwed in at the top
> before, but that wasn't the case here, they just fell off.
>
>
>
> But, I have to say, just getting it back in from this position without 
> doing
> any damage was hard enough-it seemed nearly cunning in its willingness to
> move in every direction but up or straight back down-and it was all I 
> could
> do to keep from ripping the dampers all to hell.
>
>
>
> To make a long story short, I filed and shaped the hammers with the action
> in place.  (Faux pas)?   I think I did a pretty good job, but getting to 
> the
> back of the hammers at the correct angle was a bear.  And of course, I
> worried about the felt dust getting all over the place.  I was careful and
> even placed rags around the bottom of the shanks to block as much as I
> could, and when I was done, I (carefully) blew and (vigorously) vacuumed 
> and
> I think I got most if not all of it out.
>
>
>
> I think I did a decent job on the hammers-standard grove wear taken care 
> of,
> the hammer shape looks pretty good, all strings make contact.  And it 
> tuned
> up ok after the work too, although I can't swear that I didn't mess up 
> some
> strike points just a little, esp. in the area just after the treble
> break-there are some subtle false beats that may or may not have been 
> there
> prior to the hammer work.
>
>
>
> So, I guess my question is twofold:
>
>
>
> Is it ok to attempt to shape hammers in a spinet with the action in place?
>
>
>
> And what might have been the problem with this action snagging, what was I
> missing?  Something obvious I fear.
>
>
>
> I imagine I will eventually have to remove one of these actions-thought I
> dread the thought.
>
>
>
> Thanks in advance, Gary
>
>
>
>