[pianotech] hammer return noise

[Paul T Williams]

sorry, I meant to say "for LACK of a better term :>)

PW



From:
Paul T Williams <pwilliams4 at unlnotes.unl.edu>
To:
pianotech at ptg.org
Date:
03/01/2010 07:37 AM
Subject:
Re: [pianotech] hammer return noise



How strong is the rep spring? I've found some that really "flick", for a 
better term, the jack back so hard if slaps back into place. 

Paul 



From: 
"Gene Nelson" <nelsong at intune88.com> 
To: 
<pianotech at ptg.org> 
Date: 
02/28/2010 11:50 PM 
Subject: 
Re: [pianotech] hammer return noise




Thanks for the ideas Joe. 
 
Hi Gene, 

As I'm sure you know very well, action noises are often cumulative (many 
small noises that add up).  Here are a few things that you can try, each 
of which might help a little bit: 

• With the stack upside down, mix Protek CLP and teflon powder together, 
and brush onto the wippen cushions.  Then, needle the cushions a lot. 

• Needle the jack position stop felt (button). 

• Needle the letoff button. 

• Needle the drop pad.  All three of these can also get a hit of 
CLP/teflon if it seems to help. 

• File or sand a *very tiny* rounding or chamfer on the back of the jack 
top (the side of the jack closest to the hammer head), and coat with 
Permalon or similar.  This slightly cuts down jack return noise, and 
concomitantly helps the jack to return and reduces the jack top corner's 
tendency to dig into the knuckle. 

I would try the above steps on a few sample notes to see if they help. 
--- 
Here are a few other things to check, which you have probably already 
done, but I'll mention them just in case: 

• How are the balance rail holes?  If they are just a tiny bit looser than 
optimal, they can really add to key noise. 

• How tight are the new keypins in the action frame rails? 

• I know that you installed new key bushings, but how is the bushing to 
keypin fit?  I am asking because I have at least once installed new 
bushings and gotten an ever so slightly loose fit, which increased key 
noise. 

• How soft yet firm is the new key end felt?  Some of the newer stuff is 
not as nice as 100 year old felt.... 

• Other folks have suggested the backrail cloth as a possible culprit.  It 
certainly could be, and I would suggest experimenting with a double 
backrail cloth if possible.  Two layers, each glued down only toward the 
front of the keyframe and floating free at the rear can be quieter than 
one layer.  Alternatively, one piece in the center covered by a much 
thinner cloth that is only glued down in front of and behind the main 
cloth can also be effective (the "snug as a bug in a rug" backrail cloth 
method). 

• I know that you said that the new Tokiwa centers are at optimal 
friction, but they sure do pin them loosely these days!  I'm still a bit 
of a skeptic on that one, and it wouldn't hurt to repin a hammer flange on 
a particularly noisy note, just to see what happens. 

I posed some of these as questions, but there is no need to answer them 
here;  I just wanted to give you things to think about (which you may 
already have done). 

When you get it straightened out, please tell us how things work out for 
the action. 

Joe DeFazio 
Crosbytown 



-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://ptg.org/pipermail/pianotech.php/attachments/20100301/9112b4f6/attachment.htm>