[CAUT] Getting lacquer out of hammers

[David Ilvedson]

Curious, how you dispose of the lacquer thinner coming out of the hammers...

David Ilvedson, RPT
Pacifica, CA  94044

----- Original message ----------------------------------------
From: "David Love" <davidlovepianos at comcast.net>
To: <caut at ptg.org>
Received: 12/8/2008 11:55:43 AM
Subject: Re: [CAUT] Getting lacquer out of hammers


>All you can really do is soak them in thinner and try to wash the lacquer
>away from the strike point.  You can use acetone but I would use lacquer
>thinner.  The acetone flashes off a bit too quickly.  Soak them right over
>the crown and use several applications within about 5 minutes of each other.
>Be prepared that the amount of thinner applied will tend to run down the
>sides of the hammer so you might consider a tray of some type underneath to
>catch the run off.  If the hammers are actually not on the shanks you might
>try dipping them or even soaking them.  After each soaking change the
>thinner as it will get contaminated with lacquer leaching out of the
>hammers.  Try one to be sure that the glue joint won't let go but I don't
>think it should be a problem.  

>David Love
>www.davidlovepianos.com


>-----Original Message-----
>From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Israel
>Stein 
>Sent: Monday, December 08, 2008 11:20 AM
>To: caut at ptg.org
>Subject: [CAUT] Getting lacquer out of hammers

>Hello,

>I know that there is a thread about this somewhere in the list archives, but
>the archives went away with the server move and won't be back in time to do
>this over Winter Break, if possible, so...

>I have a set of overlacquered Steinway hammers sitting on the shelf here at
>SFSU that I would love to be able to re-use - since our parts budget here is
>fast disappearing into the 12 billion dollar California deficit. Is there
>any way to get most of that lacquer out of these hammers, and if so, how?

>Israel Stein
>Piano Technician
>Creative Arts Technical Services
>San Francisco State University