[pianotech] Action Reconditioning/Rebuilding: When is it best to replace felts?

[William Truitt]

I do replace them as a given too in my action rebuilds.  And I have replaced them for other action rebuilders, but a few years after the fact because they were noisy.

 

Will

 

From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Paul T Williams
Sent: Thursday, November 12, 2009 5:18 PM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Action Reconditioning/Rebuilding: When is it best to replace felts?

 

Correct, William; 

I just think that if you're charging a substantial investment in a piano action, we, as techs, should just replace these things as a given. At least that was how I was taught by my mentor, Mr. Steve Brady. (the crazy dancing dude! and great friend!) 

I've seen way too many action "retrofits/rebuilds" that customers thought were totally "rebuilt"!  I've seen everything from a very good action rebuild to something looking like a 5th grader took after it with some WD-40 and some sandpaper....Same with restringing.... poorly done and some gold spray-paint to re-bronze the plate!  Even paint on the strings...Gives the rest of us a bad name...Shame on them! 

Paul 





From: 

"William Truitt" <surfdog at metrocast.net> 


To: 

<pianotech at ptg.org> 


Date: 

11/12/2009 04:08 PM 


Subject: 

Re: [pianotech] Action Reconditioning/Rebuilding: When is it best        to replace felts?

 

  _____  




Another reason to replace action felts not yet mentioned – noise.  Old felts compress, get hard, and noisy; particularly let off felts, back rail cloth, front rail punchings. 
  
Will Truitt 
  
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [ <mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org> mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Paul T Williams
Sent: Thursday, November 12, 2009 4:50 PM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Action Reconditioning/Rebuilding: When is it best to replace felts? 
  
Good call, Jon 

If one is to perform a full action retrofit, why stop at wips and hammers/shanks/flanges....especially if the customer can afford it! I have gone to the wurzen conical front rail punchings as well with nothing but huge success and raves from the customers.  Like them a lot! 

Like when I re-string...new bridge pins and agraffes.... It only makes sense.  OK, I admit, a few practice room grands didn't get everything...sometimes, just new hammers, or new bass strings, but that's my budget restraints!.....if only in a perfect world.... 

Paul 


From: 

Jon Page <jonpage at comcast.net> 


To: 

pianotech at ptg.org 


Date: 

11/12/2009 01:07 PM 


Subject: 

Re: [pianotech] Action Reconditioning/Rebuilding: When is it best to replace felts?


  

 

  _____  





Replace all the key frame felts, including cardboard punchings.
I don't like to deal with dry-rotted punchings down the line.
Might as well replace the letoff buttons as well.

For the hammer rail, get a roll of fine emery cloth from Klingspor
and adhere a strip onto the rail with double-sided tape (a hardware
store will have 1/2" tape for plastic window sheets by 3M).
-- 

Regards,

Jon Page



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