[pianotech] Cleaning hammers and other action parts?

[Barbara Richmond]

Hi Marc, 



I don't quite understand which way you hold/secure the parts.   Would you have a picture of the tool and parts set up & ready to go to work?  A before and after picture of the parts would be cool, too. 



Thanks, 



Barbara Richmond, RPT 

near Peoria, Illinois 


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Marc Lanthier (Piano Lanco)" <info at pianolanco.com> 
To: pianotech at ptg.org 
Sent: Monday, February 9, 2009 3:59:16 PM GMT -06:00 US/Canada Central 
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Cleaning hammers and other action parts? 


I use a rounded scotch-brite pad (forest green color) attached to a power drill. Press against the underside of the hammers as you pass the cleaning abrasive over the hammers and mouldings. Does a great job.... 


Marc Lanthier 
514-770-7438 
1-877-PIANO10 
info at pianolanco.com 
www.pianolanco.com 



From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of David Boyce 
Sent: February 9, 2009 4:23 PM 
To: pianotech at ptg.org 
Subject: [pianotech] Cleaning hammers and other action parts? 



I went to a customer today whom I visited for the first time last year. 

They have two upright pianos, only one of which I had tuned on the previous visit. They told me last year that they had previously had work done at some expense on the other piano but weren't very pleased with it. There was no time for me to look at it on that occasion. 

Today I tuned the piano I did before, and they wanted the other one doing too. It turns out to be a 1923 Chappell, quite nice. The work that had been done on it seems only to have been the fitting of new bridle tapes and balance hammer leather. Neatly enough done. They said it cost a lot, but I didn't ask how much.  The piano is 300 cents low, but the pins are tight, so it's just neglect.  Why did that other technician renew tapes and leathers, but not say about the pitch?  I am going back to do a pitch raise for them. 

The action, especially the hammers (the wood and the felt) are prettty grubby with what seems to be ingrained soot.  What do you suggest for doing a reasonably quick in-situ cleanup? Disassembling and cleaning with oxalic acid isn't really an option.  I'm not much drawn to the idea of whitening the hammer felts with dressmakers' chalk. 

Best regards, 

David.
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