[CAUT] Steinway hammers with pre-voicing solution

[Jeff Olson]

What's all this about "lacquering," anyway?  One would think there's nother 
finishing medium appropriate to voicing.

In my experience, I often prefer shellac -- gives the hammers a nice, 
glowing, and warm tone. Now for a breakdown of the tonal qualities of other 
finish products:

Want a  "utilitarian tone"?   I find that polyurethane does the job. 
Water-based acrylic tends toward a certain lucid, occasionally brilliant, 
timbre.  Tung oil results in what I call a "lugubrious sound."  And, of 
course, spar varathane is a must on boat-bound instruments.  And the 
resultant tone certainly makes one wish to sail away (with all possible 
alacrity).

Anyway, just some thoughts at the end of a hard day of spraying finish with 
a leaky filtration mask.

JeffO