[pianotech] broken Spinet Hammer Shank

[David Ilvedson]

Oh yeah?   Got anything in writing?   I think Mark Andersen and Margie Williams of the SF Chapter came up with that idea...so there!

David Ilvedson, RPT
Pacifica, CA  94044

----- Original message ----------------------------------------
From: "Joseph Garrett" <joegarrett at earthlink.net>
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Received: 10/10/2009 11:48:48 PM
Subject: Re: [pianotech] broken Spinet Hammer Shank


>Rob McCall said: "It's broken very close to the hammer butt, so I plan on using the 
>Spurlock method with the drywall screw, wallpaper paste remover, heat, 
>etc. to remove the remnant still left in the hammer butt."

>Rob et al,
>Let's get something correct in regards to this method and where it came from. I 
>came up with that system 10 years before Spurlock ever thought of messing with 
>pianos!! The original system, which was developed for a vandalized Baldwin Hamilton 
>Studio, was not a sheet rock screw, which tends to split things out. It was a 1 1/2" 
>#8 sheet metal screw.  First, the shank was cut flush with the top of the butt. A 
>hole was drilled with a 3/32" drill,  down the center of the shank. Water filled the 
>drilled hole. Then the sheet metal screw was inserted. Then the sheet metal screw 
>was heated and a shank puller was used to extract the shank stub. For the hammer 
>end, cut away any glue fillet and soak the shank hammer tail with water and extract 
>as usual. The reason Wall Paper Remover was NOT used, was becausue is affects 
>glue integrity, if you glue before it is completely dry, (which takes at least 12 hours!)
>You already have the hammer and butt out of the piano, so I'd advise you to extract 
>the shank from the butt and re-install it in the piano. It's no big deal to glue a shank 
>into the butt. Then, trim the shank, (dry fit) so that the hammer is the correct 
>alignment with it's neighbors. Swab the hammer head hole with glue, (preferrably 
>cold Hide Glue), and put the hammer back on. Align. If you heat the Cold hide glue 
>with a cup of HOT water, the glue will set up faster, so you won't have to chase the 
>darned thing for very long.<G> I hope this helps. (and clarifies the system 
>origin.<G>)
>Regards,
>Joe


>Joe Garrett, R.P.T. (Oregon)
>Captain, Tool Police
>Squares R I