[pianotech] Damper Felt

[Garret Traylor]

My situation is installing flat damper felt on the narrow heads of
Chickering Grands. I have purchased a narrow felt from several American
suppliers (French product). For the wedges no felt is narrow enough.

My experience, I don't understand the orientation of the flat felt in this
circumstance. Particularly when compared to the function of the same
dimension wedge felt that is sold along side.
 
It seems to me that the flat felt has been cut wrong at the factory all
along.  It has the wrong orientation therefore the wrong bias.  I don't see
how it could ever work, something is askew.  I presented this dilemma to my
Chapter a few months ago.  If I am incorrect, what is the solution except to
buy Yamaha felt? Are the Manufacturers aware of a problem?
Kindest Regards,	
Garret 
---

-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of John Delacour
Sent: Thursday, April 21, 2011 4:06 AM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Damper Felt

At 21:28 -0700 20/04/2011, David Love wrote:

>Preferences: horizontal cut or vertical cut--why?

In principle I have always preferred horizontal because the felts 
have less sideways rigidity, but the problem with some horizontal 
strips is that the felting is too loose. For nearly all work now I 
buy horizontal Yamaha strips.  These are more expensive but the 
quality is very good.  For Steinways I generally use the hugely 
expensive original sets.  I've just paid $185 + postage + 20% tax for 
a set for Model M but the quality is pretty good and what I spend for 
the pre-cut set I saver in labour.  Steinway, as you know, have 
always used horizontal bass felts.

I don't think it can really be said that one style is better than the 
other but the quality of the felt is very important and I am not 
satisfied with either the German or the French strips that most 
people use over here.  Perhaps in America you have more variety and 
better quality.

JD